Sengol (sceptre)

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This article is about a sceptre used while transferring power from British Raj to India. For other purposes, see Sceptre.
Sengol.png
The top part of Sengol.png

Sengol is a 5-foot long golden sceptre[1] that was given to the first prime minister of the Republic of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, from by Lord Mountbatten, on 14 August 1947 to mark the transfer of power from British Raj to India.[1][2] Though sengol[lower-alpha 1] is a generic term for sceptre in Tamil,[3] the term gained popularity in India after the Government of India decided to install the sceptre in the New Parliament House.[1][4]

Etymology[edit]

The word sengol (IAST: ceṅkōl) is a combination of the Tamil word cemmai, which means 'righteousness' or 'prosperity',[5] and kol, means ‘rule of the king’. ‘Kon’ means king and ‘kol’ means his ‘rule’. ‘Sengol’ means ‘righteous rule’. [6]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

Republic of India attained independence from the British empire on 15 August 1947. Before the transfer of power, Mountbatten asked Nehru what should be the symbol of the transfer of power.[1][7] Nehru discussed the issue with the country's last Governor General C. Rajagopalachari. As a Tamil scholar, he told Nehru about the royal family heritage of Tamil Nadu, and informed him that according to tradition a scepter is handed over to the new monarch during coronation.[8] This practice originated from the reign of the Chola dynasty.[1][7][9] Rajagopalachari advised Nehru to take a scepter from the British.[1][7]

அடியார்கள் வானில் அரசாள்வர் ஆணை நமதே meaning "Those who chant this 'padhigam' (set of songs) will rule the heavens".

— The senior pontiff of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam gave the scepter to Nehru reciting Tevaram and this quote as the last line, completing the transfer of power.[10].

Crafting and transfer[edit]

Nehru entrusted Rajagopalachari with the task of collecting the sceptre. Rajagopalachari approached matha Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam in Tamil Nadu to make the sceptre. The then Guru of the matha undertook the task. Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam matha entrusted the making of the scepter to Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a jeweler from Madras.[11][12]

After making the sengol, Bangaru gave the scepter to the Matha. A senior Purohita of the matha gave the scepter to Mountbatten. The scepter was handed over to Nehru 11:45 PM on August 14, 1947, sprinkled with Ganges water. A Tamil Tevaram hymn composed by 7th century CE Saivite Nayanar Saint Sambandar was recited to commemorate the moment.[1][11][12]

Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru is seen holding the 'sengol'

The sengol was kept at Nehru Gallery of Anand Bhawan in Prayagraj and mislabelled as "Golden Walking stick gifted to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru",[13] after it was given to Nehru.[13] From there it was to be shifted to the new Parliament building on 28 May 2023.[1][11] At the inauguration of the new Parliament House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to install the sengol near the Speaker of the House's chair in the new Parliament building.[8][12][14][15]

Design[edit]

The sengol is made of gold and is about 18 inches long. It is decorated with intricate designs and has a nandi (bull) on top. The nandi is a sacred animal in Hinduism, seen as a symbol of Dharma, which is personified as a bull in the Puranas.[16][17]

Sengol 2.png

See also[edit]

Note[edit]

  1. ↑ Tamil: செங்கோல் romanised: ceṅkōl

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "নতুন সংসদ ভবনে থাকছে স্বাধীনতার অন্যতম প্রতীক 'সেঙ্গল'! সোনার রাজদণ্ডে লুকিয়ে কোন ইতিহাস?". Anandabazar (in Bengali). New Delhi: Anandabazar Patrika. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sengol: The golden symbol of Independence that found its way into the new parliament building". economictimes.indiatimes.com. The Economic Times. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "செங்கோல்", தமிழ் விக்சனரி (in தமிழ்), 2016-08-24, retrieved 2023-05-25
  4. ↑ Shemin Joy (24 May 2023). "What is Sengol? Facts about historic sceptre in new Parliament". www.deccanherald.com. New Delhi: Deccan Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "செம்மை", தமிழ் விக்சனரி (in தமிழ்), 2022-04-20, retrieved 2023-05-25
  6. ↑ "கோல்", தமிழ் விக்சனரி (in தமிழ்), 2017-04-25, retrieved 2023-05-25
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Abhijit Chowdhury (25 May 2023). "এবার থেকে সংসদে স্পিকারের আসনের পাশে থাকবে 'সেঙ্গল', ৫ ফুট উঁচু সোনার এই রাজদণ্ডের ইতিহাস জানেন?". bangla.hindustantimes.com (in Bengali). Hindustan Times - Bangla. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Poulomi Saha (24 May 2023). "Sacred ritual steeped in Tamil culture: How PM Modi will install Sengol in new Parliament building". www.indiatoday.in. New Delhi: India Today. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Inspired by the Cholas, handed over to Nehru: historic 'Sengol' to be installed in new Parliament building". www.thehindu.com. The Hindu. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Sengol : Do you know its rich history & significance ?". www.hamaribaat.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Sreeparna Chakrabarty (24 May 2023). "How a letter to PMO set off a search for the Sengol". www.thehindu.com. New Delhi: The Hindu. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "'Sengol' to be installed in the new parliament: Significance of the sceptre, first given to Nehru". www.indianexpress.com. New Delhi: The Indian Express. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Chingkheinganbi Mayengbam (25 May 2023). "The Sengol saga: Lost as Nehru's 'golden walking stick', how the historic sceptre was rediscovered". www.indiatoday.in. Chennai: India Today. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao (24 May 2023). "'Sengol' (sceptre) to be installed by PM Modi in new Parliament on May 28: All you need to know". www.hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "At the inauguration of the new Parliament House, PM Modi will establish the historical and sacred "Sengol" in the Parliament House". pib.gov.in. PIB Delhi. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "New Parliament building opening | How a letter to PMO set off a search for the Sengol". The Hindu. 2023-05-24. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  17. ↑ அகஸ்டஸ் (2023-05-25). "நாடாளுமன்றத்தில் செங்கோல்; இதற்கும் சோழர்களுக்கும் என்ன தொடர்பு? - தரவுகளுடன் விரிவான அலசல்". www.vikatan.com (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2023-05-25.
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