Disagreements in Malviya family over receiving Bharat Ratna

Uncertainty prevails over who among the family of the late Madan Mohan Malviya should receive the coveted ‘Bharat Ratna’ award, conferred to the founder of the Banaras Hindu University recently.

While several members of the Malviya family have come forward to receive the award on behalf of the late leader, some have also suggested that the award should be kept at BHU.

Dispute flared up after Saraswati Malviya, the 92-year-old daughter-in-law of Pt Madan Mohan, reportedly wrote to the President claiming her right to receive the award as she is the oldest member of the family.

Saraswati, wife of Pt Madan Mohan’s oldest son, is also said to have attached a “family tree” to buttress her claim.

However, the BHU founder’s grandson justice (retd) Girdhar Malviya denied rumours of a dispute over receiving the award. “I do not know who would receive the award, but it should be kept at BHU,” he said on Friday.

“I will go to the (award) ceremony if invited and apprise everyone on the family tree,” he added.

Modi-connection
Sources said Girdhar Malviya, one of the prominent persons who proposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s candidature to contest from Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, is widely tipped to receive the award.

Sources also revealed that some members of the family have said Hem Sharma, the 95-year-old granddaughter of PT Malviya, should receive the award if age is a criteria.

But who in the Malviya clan would get on the stage on the day of the ceremony to receive the award remains a mystery at this stage.

Pt Malviya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were chosen recently by the National Democratic Alliance government for the country’s highest civilian honour.  
DH News Service