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Why a historic ‘sengol’ is being installed in new Parliament building & how it was made

A ‘sengol’ given to Prime Minister Nehru – to symbolise transfer of power from the British to the govt of India – will be placed on the Speaker’s podium in the new Parliamentary building.

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New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday announced that a historic ‘sengol’ (Tamil for sceptre or dharma danda) would be placed beside the Lok Sabha Speaker’s seat in the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after inaugurating the structure Sunday.

The same sengol was handed over to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru more than 75 years ago on the eve of country’s independence by the deputy chief priest of the Thiruvadutharai Adheenam — a Shaivite mutt located in present day Tamil Nadu — after briefly handing it to Lord Mountbatten and then taking it back.

Sengol is the symbol of the transfer of power to India from the Britishers on 14th of August 1947,” Shah said, adding it “represents the values of fair and equitable governance.”

A ‘symbolic reminder’ of a king’s dharma

Speaking to ThePrint, experts explained that handing over of the sengol from one ruler to another was a “symbolic representation” reminding the king of his dharma, which is to provide good governance to his people.

“In the past, when kings assumed so much power, giving him a sengol would remind him that society was watching his rule and that he should remember his duty to ensure the welfare of his people,”  stated T. Satyamurthy, (Retired) superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India.

“The sengol does not only have a religious significance. The practice has been a part of Tamil society for over 2000 years. There have been references to this in Sangam literature. This practice was not limited to just Tamil society. The sengol was also handed over to the kings of Mysore. As High Court or Supreme Court justices walk, two bearers carry sceptres in front of them to remind them that they are being observed by society. It is to remind them to always be unbiased and that someone is watching,” he said.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also commented on the installation of the sengol, saying it is “reminding us of the responsibility to uphold righteous governance for the nation.”

The history behind making the sengol 

The sengol was crafted in Madras (present day Chennai) by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty & Sons — one of Chennai’s renowned jewelers.

Ethiraj Vummidi, his father and his brothers were at the store located in the Parry’s Corner area of Madras when the Adheenam approached them to craft the item.

Speaking to ThePrint, son of Ethiraj Vummidi, Uday Kumar Vummidi, explained the stories he heard from his father about the crafting of the sengol.

“As India was on the cusp of independence, Lord Mountbatten had asked Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru a simple question of how do you transfer power? Prime Minister Nehru reached out to Rajaji (C. Rajagopalachari), who explained the significance of the sengol in the transfer of power,” he stated.

“Rajaji reached out to the Adheenam who approached Vummidi Bangaru Chetty & Sons to craft the sengol. Dad was in his 20s and was with his father. The sengol is handcrafted – a nagasu (meaning fine work or ornamental work in Tamil). The Adheenam had requested for a ‘nandi’ bull to be placed on top of the sengol, signifying justice and sturdiness,” he added.

The entire process to craft the sengol took about 15-20 days, before it was transported to Delhi in a specially commissioned box. The deputy chief priest also carried with him holy water and travelled with musicians.

Amarendran Vummidi, a fourth generation member of the Vummidi Bangaru Chetty family, said that the sceptre – originally made of gold – was approximately 5 feet in height, width was around 3 inches on the top and 1 inch at the bottom.

“The normal practice is to make the sceptre in gold and a wooden rod is kept to provide stability,” said Amarendran, who has now made a replica of the sceptre on request of the Central Government.

The original sceptre might cost around Rs 70 to Rs 75 lakh if made today, he added.

As the sengol was handed over to Nehru, the oduvar sang the Kolaru Pathigam, written by Tamil saint Thirugnana Sambandar, which are hymns praising Lord Shiva. According to historians, the sceptre was handed over while the last line of the hymn was being recited, which said, “Adiyaarkal vaanil Arasaalvar aanai namadhe” meaning “The followers (referring to the King) will rule as in the heavens, as per our order”.

The sceptre which was like a lost episode in history came to the limelight when Vummidi Bangaru Chetty made a short video about the significance and whereabouts of the artefact, which was then placed in a museum in Allahabad. This had grabbed the attention of the Central Government and soon action to restore the sceptre to its glory was initiated, said Amarendran.

How the sengol was handed over to Nehru

At 11:45 pm on 14 August 1947, fifteen minutes before Nehru delivered his first inaugural address – “Tryst with Destiny” – to the newly independent state of India, a symbolic gesture to mark the transfer of power from the British Emperor to India was on display at Nehru’s residence.

“Kumaraswamy Thamburan, deputy high priest of the Thiruvadutharai Adheenam, took the sceptre from the hands of Lord Mountbatten and purified it with gangajal (holy water) and as the hymns of the Thevaram (devotional hymns sung in praise of Lord Shiva) was sung by a oduvar (singer) as the Nadaswaram was played by Rajarathinam Pillai, the sceptre was handed over to Jawaharlal Nehru,” narrated CR Kesavan, great grandson of C Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of India after Independence.

“In 1927 when the Parliament was inaugurated by then Viceroy of India lord Irwin, the inauguration had a very European tradition. Nothing to do with India. The sceptre or the sengol again in the new Parliament building not only restores our heritage  tradition and glory but also brings to fore the unity of south and north India,” said Kesavan, who joined the BJP last month.

Time Magazine, in its issue published on 25 August 1947, described the scene of how Prime Minister Nehru received the two emissaries from the Adheenam and how the “symbol of power and authority” was received by him from “Hindu holy men”.

“With the emissaries came south India’s most famous player of the nagasaram, a special kind of Indian flute… In an ancient Ford, the evening of Aug. 14 they began their slow, solemn progress to Nehru’s house. Ahead walked the flutist, stopping every 100 yards or so to sit on the road and play his flute for about 15 minutes. Another escort bore a large silver platter. On it was the pithambaram (cloth of God), a costly silk fabric with patterns of golden thread,” the Time Magazine wrote.

“When at last they reached Nehru’s house, the flutist played while the sannyasis awaited an invitation from Nehru. Then they entered the house in dignity, fanned by two boys with special fans of deer hair. One sannyasi carried a sceptre of gold, five feet long, two inches thick. He sprinkled Nehru with holy water from Tanjore, and drew a streak in sacred ash across Nehru’s forehead,” the report said.

Prime Minister Nehru was wrapped with the pithambaram and the sengol was handed over to him, symbolising the transfer of power from the United Kingdom to India.


Also read: ‘Sengol’ returns: Sceptre given to Nehru in 1947 to make comeback when Modi inaugurates new Parliament


 

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