Sengol

Sengol

News: In a symbolic move, a sacred sceptre that was handed to Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of Independence to mark the transfer of power from the British will be given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

What is a Sengol?
 The “sengol” sceptre is a long, stick-like item (5 feet) made of silver and covered in gold. The sceptre has a carving of a bull, called a Nandi, at the top. This is done to remind everyone about the importance of fair and just leadership in the country.
 The Sengol represents the idea that the person who holds it should rule with fairness and justice.
 ‘Sengol’ is derived from the Tamil word ‘semmai,’ which means excellence, the ‘Sengol’ represents the embodiment of power and authority.

Who gave the idea of Sengol ceremony in 1947?
 The idea came from C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India. When Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of British India, asked for a suitable symbol, Rajaji suggested the ‘Sengol’ sceptre. He was inspired by a similar ceremony in the ancient Chola dynasty, where power was passed from one king to another.
 In the Chola tradition, during the transfer of power ceremony, in addition to the presentation of the sceptre, an order called ‘aanai’ in Tamil was bestowed upon the new ruler. This order symbolizes the responsibility to govern with unwavering adherence to the principles of ‘dharma,’ ensuring justice and fairness in the realm.

Where will the sceptre be placed?
 The sceptre will be installed near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s podium. The handover ceremony will be attended by priests from the Adheenam Mutt.