A day ahead of India's 70th Republic Day, former President Pranab Mukherjee, late legendary singer Bhupen Hazarik, and late social activist Nanaji Deshmukh were on Friday awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest honour of the country.
Mukherjee was the President from 2012 to 2017.
The 83-year-olds political career spanned about five decades, during which he held various key posts in the Congress as well as in the governments of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh.
Deshmukh, a Sangh ideologue, was a social activist and had been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan earlier.
Born in Hingoli in Maharashtra on October 11, 1916, he passed away in Satna in Madhya Pradesh on February 27, 2010.
Hazarika, who hailed from Assam, was a playback singer, lyricist, musician. He was born on September 8, 1926, and passed away on November 5, 2011.
Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with a series of best wishes and greetings with political leaders and celebrities from across the country congratulating the awardees and remembering their significant contribution to the Indian society.
Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory...."
In a series of tweets, Modi congratulated all the awardees.
The Congress too welcomed the decision to confer the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, on former president Pranab Mukherjee, saying he was "one of our own" who was being honoured for his contribution.
Congratulating Mukherjee, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said he was "one of our own" who was being recognised and honoured for his immense contribution to public service and nation building.
"Congratulations to Pranab Da on being awarded the Bharat Ratna. The Congress Party takes great pride in the fact that the immense contribution to public service and nation building of one of our own, has been recognised and honoured," he said on Twitter.
Gandhi also expressed happiness for the Bharat Ratna being conferred on Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika, both posthumously.
"I'm happy that Shri Bhupen Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh have been honoured, posthumously, with the Bharat Ratna," he tweeted.
Maharashtra Cheif Minister said, "Many congratulations to them and also to Shri Shabbir Sayyad ji for Padma Shree got his unique contribution in animal welfare. I also congratulate all the recipients of these awards! Maharashtra is very proud!
