Linking India’s traditional and cultural values with the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will install ‘Sengol’, a historic golden sceptre, near the Speaker’s seat. The Sengol is a sacred symbol of fair and equitable governance. At the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi will also honour around 60,000 workers who built the new Parliament building in record time.
The announcement was made by Union Minister Amit Shah during a press conference on Wednesday (May 24). The Minister further informed that this sceptre was handed over to the country’s first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, to mark the transfer of power from the British to Indians. The new building of Parliament will witness the very same event, with Adheenam (Priest) repeating the ceremony and vesting PM Modi with the Sengol. It has been preserved in a museum in Allahabad since 1947. The Minister said this sceptre is called Sengol, which derives from the Tamil word semmai, meaning righteousness.
The tradition dates back to the Chola dynasty. This Tamil tradition is marked by the high priest handing over a sceptre to a new king when he comes to power. According to the Minister, the Sengol has great significance in India, especially in Tamil culture.
Elaborating more about the event that took place on the occasion of India’s independence, the Minister said, “Even after 75 years of independence, most of the people in India are not aware of this event in which India’s transfer of power took place through the handing over of Sengol to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. It was a special occasion on the night of August 14, 1947, celebrating India’s independence.”
Terming it as an ‘exceptional moment,’ the Minister said it connects our cultural heritage, history, tradition, and civilization with New India. Union Minister Amit Shah said that the Parliament building is the most appropriate and sacred place to install the historic Sengol.
A special website (sengol 1947.ignca.gov.in), with details and downloadable videos about the Sengol, was also launched by the Minister today. He said, “We want the people of India to see this and learn about this historic event. It is a matter of pride for all.”