Decolonisation of a Civilisation

India, that is Bharat, is not merely a country that is bound by its geographical borders but a civilisation characterised by its diverse cultures and rich traditions. Historically, this civilisation was anchored in the tenets of Sanatan Dharma. This is expressed through the magnificent temples built by various dynasties such as the Cholas, Marathas, Chalukyas and the Vijayanagara empire across Bharat. The present Government of India, through various initiatives such as the Ujjain Corridor, has been steadily making efforts to erase the colonial imprints on the psychological attitude of its citizens, culturally significant centres and political establishments of India. Another leap towards decolonising this timeless civilisation is the placement of the mighty ‘Sengol’, a sanctified sceptre, inside the new Parliament.On 28th May 2023, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received the ‘Sengol’ from Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam of Tamil Nadu as part of the inauguration ceremony of the New Parliament building and placed it next to the Speaker’s Chair permanently. It is to be noted that the ‘Sengol’ was given by Thiruvavaduthurai Aadhaenam to the first Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru on the night of 14th August 1947, to mark his ascension as the administrator of the nation. This was a pointed move to show transfer of power from an Indic institution to the Parliament, rather than the transfer of power from the British..However, the history and significance of ‘Sengol’ dates back to more than 1000 years. The handing over of a sceptre to a ruler is a practice in Tamil culture, especially amongst the Cholas and Pandyas for centuries and is believed to signify just rule. In various ancient Tamil texts, the Sengol is referred to as the symbol of a just and benevolent ruler. In the Silapathikaram, for example, repeated references are made to the sceptre of the Pandyas. According to the text, the Pandya sceptre is so synonymous with justice that it has never been known to bend.Historic records state that Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, had asked Nehru if there was any procedure to signify the transfer of power. Nehru in turn consulted Shri C. Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India, who in turn had the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam prepare the Sengol, seen as the sacred symbol of power and just rule in Tamil Culture. Those who presented the Sengol were flown in a special plane to Delhi and in a ceremony just before the Independence, Sengol was exchanged from Lord Mountbatten to the then Prime Minister Designate Nehru in the presence of Shri-la-Shri Sadaiyappa Thambiran Swamigal, the chief pontiff’s deputy with the recitation of Kolaru Pathigam .Nandi, the protector and symbol of justice, which is the vahana of Lord Shiva placed proudly on the top of the sceptre. Thus, this placement of ‘Sengol’ inside the New Parliament scripts a new chapter in Bharat’s history. It marks the beginning of the end of a colonised mindset that was marked by lack of respect and reverence for Bharatiya symbols and traditions. The coloniser’s attitude was persistent in destroying the cultural fabric of this nation. However, ours is a civilisation whose culture and tradition not only withstood the test of time but also the sword of the invaders. The convictions of the forefathers, seers and mothers of this land was what protected the civilisation from invasions. Acknowledging the sacrifice of our ancestors, the latent Indic wisdom and validating dharmic symbols in public institutions is surely the way to put India first.