I am equally thrilled and excited as every one of you as I lived in an era when the historical
Sengol was installed in the newly-inaugurated Parliament building in New Delhi. The journey of the
Sengol, which is a sceptre that has its origin in the Chola empire and was presented to independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is indeed fascinating.
I think that as the sceptre enters the newly inaugurated Parliament building from being Independent India’s golden walking stick and being reintroduced to the public after 75 years, the historic Dharma Dand’s story has come to a full circle.
Sengol is a symbol that denotes that the ruler is subject to the law. The origin of the sceptre dates back to the Chola empire, when a king would hand over the
Sengol, a golden sceptre adorned with a carving of the justice goddess Nandi, to signify the passing of power. And after India gained independence, Viceroy Louis Mountbatten asked Nehru if he wanted to symbolise the transfer of authority from Britain to India. To this, Nehru sought advice from C Rajagopalachari. Nehru was interested in Rajaji's suggestion to adopt the custom of handing over the sceptre that was practised in old Southern kingdoms, and it was decided to follow. Under the multidisciplinary dimension in education, this could be an interesting piece of study for Legal students (a combination of justice and history)
It is a unique occasion for contemporary India because the new Parliament building, features cutting-edge technology, and this sceptre will serve as a testament to the Prime Minister's vision for the country. The five-foot sceptre, created in 1947 by the renowned jewellers Vummidi Bangaru in Madras, is an excellent illustration of great craftsmanship. So is the triangle structure of the building and a comparison of the old structure with the features of the new. A piece of study for the School of Architecture.
The word
Sengol is derived from the word
Semmai meaning righteousness. As the sceptre finds its place in our new Parliament House, I believe it will live up to its words and also serves as a symbol that reminds people of the value of offering good governance. This could be an interesting area of study for the School of Performing Arts and Indic Studies.
This exquisite spectre is intended to watch over the governance and serve as a reminder that the transfer of power requires more than simply a handshake or paper signature. This should also involve a connection to local traditions and culture with a dash of modernity in modern day education.
I feel this is a proud moment for all of us as the new Parliament has been built with the most modern facilities. As our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly said, it is not just a complex, but the aspirations of 140 crore Indians and hopes to be the beacon of our constitution for another 100 years.
