Padma Awards 2016: Should spiritual leaders accept awards from the government?

The Padma Awards for 2016 were announced recently and three Hindu spiritual leaders also made it to the list: 

1) Padma Vibhushan to Sri Sri Ravishankar of Art of Living, 
2) Padma Bhushan to Swami Tejomayananda of Chinmaya Mission, 
3) Padma Bhushan to Swami Dayananda Saraswathi (posthumously) of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. 

And immediately, questions arose all over social media - "Should spiritual leaders be getting awards from the Government?" and “Should they be accepting it?”

Both the Bharat Ratna and the three categories of Padma Awards were established in 1954 to recognise distinguished and exceptional service/performance/achievement of high/highest order in any field of human endeavour. 

In trying to answer these questions, this description of service/achievement in the “field of human endeavour" is worth a second look. 

As I see it, human endeavour actually spans two worlds. The first of course is the immediate external world consisting of the physical and the material. This is the world which we see and experience. Here, we endlessly endeavour! Yes, we struggle, achieve, fail, love, hate, compete, perpetually search, and seek to belong, all on a journey to find one thing and one thing only - happiness. But strangely, those few who have truly succeeded in finding this happiness have been able to do it not tethered in the material world, but by changing their route and embarking on the deeper journey into the inner world of the spiritual realm. Anchored in this world of self-mastery, balance and centredness, they have been able to both connect with, as well as lead those of us in the physical world, on a positive path. Therefore, does spirituality deserve to be considered as a field of human endeavour? It most certainly does, and even more essentially. 

Furthermore, in asking the question of whether spiritual leaders should receive Awards, what we fail to understand is that, unlike in the case of an artist, movie star, scientist, writer or sports person, the Award given to spiritual leaders (at least in most cases) is actually in recognition of the services done by the entire organisation - all its volunteers, workers and members, not just in India, but all over the world. It is in that spirit that these Masters also accept it - as a representative of the organisation. Thus, when we comment negatively or question this choice, we are speaking from our own narrow egocentric point of view. 

“Aren’t they supposed to refuse it?” was also a question that was asked. Of course not! And they will never dare to do such a thing because spiritual leaders do not consider such recognitions as a personal award for themselves. For example, Swami Tejomayananda has always said (since 1993 when he became the head of the Chinmaya Mission after its Founder Swami Chinmayanada took Samadhi) that, “I am not in Gurudev's shoes; I am at His feet”. He also tells all of us who work there, "simply keep doing your best and let the work do your talking". In the case of the Chinmaya Mission, if one looks at the number of schools and colleges, ashrams, hospitals, research institutes, social service activities, publications, even a production wing that created an award winning 52-episode tele-serial on Doordarshan, that are guided by this one man, (and YES he is aware of and advised of each activity and project from its budgeting to its operation) it would be mind boggling to even comprehend. And we are poised to embark on yet another milestone - a Chinmaya University with focus on Indology and the Performing Arts. All these happen not for personal achievements, but guided by that motto “to give maximum happiness to maximum people for maximum time.” Now that deserves some kudos, does it not? 

But ultimately, it all comes down to this. None of these activities or projects or achievements really matter, because as Swamiji says, "Spirituality is not about DOING something special; it is about BEING your own true divine self". A spiritual leader who not only lives this maxim but also inspires it in thousands of people all over the world deserves to be acknowledged by the Nation that he represents. For he most certainly has made an exceptional achievement of the highest order in the field of human endeavour.

Ramaa Bharadvaj is an award-winning dancer, movement designer, educator, arts advisor and advocist. She currently guides the dance program at Chinmaya Naada Bindu Gurukul.