Bharat Ratna for Bilkis Bano

Bilkis Bano deserves the Bharat Ratna for her exemplary courage. Her ordeal did not end with the atrocities, it must have been just as bad deposing in court and facing a grueling cross examination on top of that.Now the process will be repeated during the appeal, when the convicts hire top lawyers and Bilkis will be dependant on public prosecution. Bilkis' husband also deserves an award for standing by his wife.How many Indian men would do so in the circumstances? Most Indian women would have committed suicide or gone mad. While nothing can ever change what has happened, I pray that God at least permits Bilkis and her remaining family to live the rest of their lives in peace and prosperity. May justice always prevail.