New 'Sengol' Controversy: Cultural Symbol or "Raja ka Danda"

For the first time in the 18th Lok Sabha, President Droupadi Murmu was escorted inside by the Sengol, a five-foot-long golden sceptre.

India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, accepted the "Sengol," a historic sceptre from Tamil Nadu, as a symbol of the British Empire's abdication. It was kept in the Nehru Gallery at the Allahabad Museum.

Why in News?

At the start of the 18th Lok Sabha session, opposition members raised concerns about the presence of the Sengol in the new parliament. Samajwadi Party MP RK Chaudhary wrote to Speaker Om Birla suggesting that the Sengol be substituted with a replica of the Indian Constitution.

According to news agency ANI, Chaudhary stated, "The Constitution is the emblem of democratic governance. Will 'Raja ka danda' or the Constitution govern the nation? I demand the removal of the Sengol from Parliament to uphold the Constitution."

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded by questioning why Nehru accepted the Sengol if it was so problematic. "This reflects the Samajwadi Party's mindset. First, they target and criticize Ramcharitmanas, and now they oppose the Sengol, an integral part of Indian and Tamil culture," Poonawalla remarked to ANI.

What is the Sengol?

The term "Sengol" originates from the Tamil word "Semmai," which translates to righteousness. This five-foot-long sceptre, plated in gold and silver, features a bull-shaped orb at its summit. According to India's Press Information Bureau, the bull symbolizes justice and is identified as Nandi, the revered vehicle of the Hindu god Shiva.

Who and Why was Sengol Made?

The Sengol was crafted by Vummidi Ethirajulu and Vummidi Sudhakar and produced by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty Jewellers in 1947 as a gift for Jawaharlal Nehru. According to Vummidi Sudhakar, the Chairman of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, it took a month to create the sceptre.

As per the government sources, C. Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India, contacted the Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam, a Tamil monastery, to commission the creation of the Sengol. This sceptre was to be presented to Jawaharlal Nehru on India's Independence Day, emulating a Chola dynasty tradition where the transfer of power was symbolized by passing a sceptre from one ruler to the next.

Significance of Sengol in Indian Politics

Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the significance of the 'Sengol' in Indian politics, stating, “The handover of the 'Sengol' represents the exact moment when power was transferred from the British to the Indians, marking the true celebration of our independence.” 

Following this historic event, the Sengol was placed in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum, where it was described as a ‘Golden Walking Stick gifted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.’

Why is Sengol Controversial?

The Sengol gained little attention until Prime Minister Modi revived it as a symbol during the May 28, 2023 inauguration of the new parliament, marking 75 years of independence. The prime minister received the sceptre in a ceremony attended by 20 Hindu priests.

However, the ceremony sparked controversy among opposition parties, who viewed it as straying from the secular principles of the Indian parliament. TKS Elangovan, leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), reportedly criticized it as emblematic of "monarchy, not democracy."

Now permanently placed at the speaker's chair of the Lok Sabha, the Sengol will be brought out for special occasions, such as it was placed during President Murmu's speech on Thursday, marking the start of her first address to the legislature in her new term.

Divided Opinions on Sengol

When the Sengol was first presented to President Nehru, questions arose about whether the sceptre symbolized Indian freedom or undermined it. An archival article from 1947 in the Wire, written by CN Annadurai of the DMK, expressed disagreement with using the Sengol in a democratic setting. Addressing Nehru, Annadurai stated, “For democracy to thrive, these symbols must be discarded.”

Additionally, the government's claim that the sceptre symbolized the transfer of power from Lord Mountbatten to Nehru lacks official verification. Union Home Minister Amit Shah views the Sengol as an effort to connect India's cultural traditions, specifically Tamil traditions, with a modern parliament. "It reminds us of the rule of law in governance," he affirmed.