At a glance: Five 'Bharat Ratnas' produced by the eternal city 'Varanasi'

Varanasi: Varanasi, situated on the banks of the River Ganga, doesn't need any introduction. One of the oldest cities of India, Varanasi is said to be older than Rome.The eternal city is considered the cradle of Hinduism and ranks amongst the top most tourist destinations in India.The city boasts of historic landmarks like the prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan temple. The tourists flock the city to catch glimpses of the famous Ganga-Aarti as well as cremations of Hindus on the banks of River Ganga.Varanasi is also known as the knowledge capital and what is remarkable is that this city has got the distinction of producing five Bharat Ratnas by now.Represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the present Lok Sabha, the city erupted in joy when the Government of India last month announced the decision to confer Bharat Ratna, country's highest civilian honour, on Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the legendary freedom-fighter and BHU founder .Let's have a look at all five personalities from Varanasi who have received India's highest civilian award.Dr Bhagwan Dass: A philosopher and educationist, Dass born in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi in 1869. He is widely known as the founder of Kashi Vidyapeeth, one of the oldest university in India. For a time he served in the Central Legislative Assembly of British India.He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1955. He was the fourth recipient of India's highest civilian.A prominent road in New Delhi is named after him and a colony is also named after his name in Sigra area of Varanasi 'Dr. Bhagwan Das Nagar.'He wrote approximately 30 books, many of these in Sanskrit and Hindi.Lal Bahadur Shastri: He was India's second Prime Minister, Born on October 2, 1904, in Ramnagar near Varanasi, into a Kayastha family, Shastri was simple and soft-spoken. He was also a great general in Mahatma Gandhi's army of peaceful soldiers of freedom. He is famously known for his iconic slogan - 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'. He was the first person to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1966.He was given the title Shastri (Scholar) - a bachelor's degree awarded to him by the University.Shastri died of a heart attack in Tashkent in 1966 after signing Tashkent Declaration, a declaration of ceasefire with Pakistani President M Ayub Khan to end the 1965 war. He was eulogised as a national hero and the Vijay Ghat memorial established in his memory.Pandit Ravi Shankar: Fondly referred as the ‘godfather of world music', Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi. He was one of the best-known exponents of the sitar in the second half of the 20th century as well as a composer of Hindustani classical music. His name often preceded by the title Pandit.Pandit Ravi Shankar started his career as a dancer, at the age of 10. But his life completey changed when he met Ustad Allauddin Khan. He gave up dancing and started learning sitar. In 1999, Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.He continued to perform up until the end of his life.Ustad Bismillah Khan: He was born on March 21, 1913 in Bihar's Dumraon and often referred to by the honorific title Ustad.He was credited with popularising the shehnai. Though Khan was not born in Varanasi, the shehnai maestro made the narrows lanes of the city his home from a very young age.He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.Ustad was one of the finest musicians in post-independent Indian classical music and one of the best examples of Hindu-Muslim unity in India. He played the shehnai to audiences across the world.Ustad was the third classical musician after MS Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be accorded this distinction.Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya: Popularly known as Mahamana, Malaviya was a devout freedom fighter, notable educationist and politician who formed Banaras Hindu University (BHU), one of the finest educational institutions in India.He left no stone unturned in India's quest for independence. His patriotism remained unbroken from youth till death.Born on 25th December, 1861 in Allahabad to a Brahmin family, today, Malviya is a source of inspiration to many. He was among the eight children that his father, Pandit Baijnath, and mother, Meena Devi had.The Government of India in December last year announced to confer Bharat Ratna on Malviya.