75 years later, a tryst with Sengol again

On Sunday, at the inauguration of the new Parliament, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi will receive a Sengol, a golden sceptre, from Tamil priests — a ceremony dating back to the Chola Empire signifying the transfer of power from one king to another.

The government hopes the inauguration will represent Indian traditions, set a historical precedent, reprise a similar ceremony 75 years ago when India’s first PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, accepted the same Sengol hours before his famous ‘tryst with destiny’ speech on the midnight of August 15, 1947, which represented the transfer of power from the British to self-rule by Indians.

Detailing the significance of Sunday’s ceremony, on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said C Rajagopalachari suggested to Nehru the Chola ritual involving the Sengol to signify the transfer of power from Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.

Shah said Nehru accepted the Sengol in the presence of Rajendra Prasad, later to be India’s first President, others, an event recorded by newspapers, including Time magazine, but forgotten later. The Sengol lay at Prayagraj’s Allahabad Museum for the last seven decades.

Shah said the purpose of the installation was clear then is evident even now.

A power transfer is not merely a handshake or signing of a document but must be a bridge between tradition modernity, the home minister said. He said the new Parliament building proves the PM’s far-sightedness is a glorious attempt to link New India with its civilisational heritage tradition. A symbol of righteous rule, the Sengol will be installed near the Speaker’s chair, he said.

Sengol is rooted in the Tamil word ‘Semmai’, meaning righteousness. The historical staff was made of silver, coated with gold, crowned with the sacred Nandi, with its unyielding gaze. The Nandi on top of the Sengol symbolises ‘nyaya’, or justice.

The Thiruvavaduthurai Aatheenam is over 500 years old has 50 branch monasteries across Tamil Nadu. The leader of the Aatheenam commissioned jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty in Chennai to craft the Sengol (5 feet in length). Shah said that Vummidi Ethirajulu, 96, Vummidi Sudhakar, 88, two craftsmen involved in crafting the original Sengol, would be attending Sunday’s ceremony.

At the time of the transfer of power on August 14, 1947, three men were specially flown in from Tamil Nadu: the Deputy High Priest of the Aatheenam, Nadaswaram player Rajarathinam Pillai, the ‘Oduvar’ (singer), who came carrying the Sengol conducted the proceedings. The priest gave the Sengol to Lord Mountbatten took it back. The Sengol was purified with water from the Ganges taken in a procession to Nehru’s house, where the priests handed it over to him. When the PM learned about this little-known episode of history, he ordered research decided it should be installed in Parliament, said Shah.

In Chola rule, the handing over of the sceptre was accompanied by the rendering of a special song composed by 7th century Tamil saint Thirugnana Sambandar. A child prodigy who lived only till 16, Sambandar composed the song ‘Kolaru Pathigam’, to propitiate the malevolence of stars planets. ‘Pathigam’ means a poem in praise of a deity. The song concludes with the words ‘Adiyaarkal vaanil arasaalvar aanai namadhe’, meaning ‘The followers (referring to the king) will rule as in the heavens, as per our order’.

To a question that alluded to much of the Opposition deciding to boycott the inauguration, objecting to the PM instead of President Droupadi Murmu inaugurating it, Shah said all political parties have been invited to the inauguration, they will take a “call as per their wisdom”.