What Is 'Sengol'? Sceptre Nehru Received From Mountbatten On Independence And Set To Be Placed In New Parliament

When PM Modi learned about the morsel of information he decided to put the ‘Sengol’ before the nation and chose the Parliament inauguration day to do it, said Union Minister Amit Shah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming inauguration of the new Parliamentary building on Sunday, May 28, will feature a symbolic gesture that harks back to India's independence in 1947. The ceremony will see the placement of a 'Sengol,' a Tamil word meaning 'spectre,' which was originally handed over by Lord Mountbatten to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to commemorate the country's independence.

The decision to include the 'Sengol' in the ceremony came after PM Modi discovered this historical detail and chose the Parliament's inauguration day as the ideal occasion to present it to the nation, according to Union Minister Amit Shah.

‘Sengol’ To Be Place In New Parliament Building

During a press conference on Wednesday, Home Minister Amit Shah stated, "PM Modi will dedicate the newly constructed Parliament building to the nation on 28th May. A historical event is being revived on this occasion. The historic sceptre, 'Sengol,' will be placed in the new Parliament building."

The Union Home Minister further explained the significance of the 'Sengol' and its role throughout history, saying, "On August 14, 1947, PM Nehru used it during the transfer of power from the British. In Tamil, it is called Sengol, which means 'full of wealth.' The Sengol played a vital role in our history and became a symbol of the transfer of power."

The ‘Sengol’ came to represent the transfer of power after extensive preparation on the eve of Independence Day.

‘Sengol’ As Symbol Of Sucession 

The concept of the 'Sengol' emerged when Lord Mountbatten asked Jawaharlal Nehru to choose a symbol to represent India's attainment of independence. Nehru sought the advice of C Rajapogalachari, the last Governor-General of India, who suggested adopting the Tamil tradition of presenting a spectre to a new king upon assuming power. Nehru readily agreed to the idea, and Rajaji was entrusted with creating the spectre.

Rajaji enlisted the help of Thiruvadunthurai Aadheenam, who, in turn, assigned the responsibility of crafting the spectre to the 20th Gurumaha Sannithanam Sri La Sri Ambalavana Desika Swamigal, as reported by The New Indian Express. The spectre was fashioned out of gold, with a bull (Nandhi) placed atop it.

Minutes before India's independence on August 14, 1947, Sri La Sri Kumaraswamy Thambiran received the spectre from Lord Mountbatten. In the presence of Odhuvaar and saints reciting hymns, the Swami sprinkled holy water. As they reached the final verses of a pathigam, Sri La Sri Kumaraswamy Thambiran presented the spectre to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who went on to deliver his historic 'Tryst with Destiny' speech.

The inclusion of the 'Sengol' in the Parliament building inauguration seeks to revive this ancient tradition and commemorate India's independence as the nation enters a new chapter in its democratic journey.