The Bharat Ratna (or, very roughly translated, "Jewel of India") is India's supreme decoration and honor, awarded for the highest degrees of national service. This service includes artistic, literary, and scientific achievement, as well as "recognition of public service of the highest order." Throughout the history of the decoration, it has been very carefully stressed that the award of the Bharat Ratna carries with it no title, no "knighthood," and no particular status.The original statutes of January 1954 did not make allowance for posthumous awards (and this perhaps explains why the decoration was never awarded to Mahatma Gandhi), though this provision was added in the January 1955 statute (and there have, subsequently, been seven posthumous awards). While there was no formal provision that recipients of the Bharat Ratna should be Indian citizens, this seems to have been the general assumption. There has been one award to a naturalized Indian citizen (to Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, "Mother Theresa," in 1980) and one to a non-Indian (to Nelson Mandela in 1990).
The original specifications for the award called for a circular gold medal, 1-3/8 inches in diameter, with the sun and the Hindi legend "Bharat Ratna" above and a floral wreath below. The reverse was to carry the state emblem and motto. It was to be worn around the neck from a white ribbon. From 13 July 1977 until 26 January 1980, awards of this decoration were suspended.
Established: By the President of India, 2 January 1954. The regulations were revised 8 January 1955 (to alter the design) and amended 26 January 1957 (to alter the depiction of the devices on the obverse and reverse). From 13 July 1977 to 26 January 1980, awards of the Bharat Ratna were suspended.
Obverse: A toned bronze pipal leaf design, 2-5/16 inches x 1-7/8 inches, "stem" downwards. (note, however, comments on the original design, above.) In the center, a platinum sunburst with the name of the decoration in silver-gilt in Sanskrit/Hindi "Bharat Ratna" (roughly, "Jewel of India") below. In 1957, the sun and motto were changed to burnished bronze. Worn around the neck from an oval suspender. Worn around the neck from an oval suspender.
Reverse: In the center, the state emblem in platinum and the motto in silver-gilt. In 1957, this was altered to burnished bronze.
Ribbon: 2 inches, white moiré.