DHAKA: Hours after Sachin Tendulkar retired from his long cricketing career, the Indian government has conferred him with the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award.

Eminent scientist Prof CNR Rao is the other recipient of the Bharat Ratna, reports .intoday.in.

The decision comes after several noted personalities had voiced their support.

Lata Mangeshkar was the latest to say that Tendulkar deserved Bharat Ratna.

‘Whatever he (Sachin) has done for the country, very few people can. He deserves the honour. He has made all of us proud,’ Lata had told television channels on Friday.

She herself had received the honour in 2001.

Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award, conferred for performance of highest order in any field of human endeavour.

The honour has been conferred on 41 people till date. The living recipients include former president APJ Abdul Kalam (1997) and economist Amartya Sen (1999).

The only foreign recipient of the award was Nelson Mandela (1990).

BDST: 1648 HRS, NOV 16, 2013
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