Inder Malhotra reports (The Indian Express, November 21, 2013) that C. V. Raman who was among the first four to receive the Bharat Ratna in 1954, and also honoured as National Professor, received a letter from a deputy secretary (Education) a year later, asking him to submit a report on the work done by him as national professor.

Raman took a hammer and a chisel and broke the Bharat Ratna to pieces. He wrapped these pieces in the Dy. Secretary’s letter and sent it to Nehru.