What 'Sengol' Maker's Family Said Ahead Of New Parliament Building Opening
NDTV
The 'Sengol' was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum until recently, when it was moved to Delhi for installation in the new parliament building.
The Vummidi Bangaru Chetty family, who made the historic golden sceptre or 'Sengol' that will be installed in the new parliament building on Sunday, has received an invitation to the inauguration ceremony.
"I am not just proud but also elated," said 95-year-old Vummidi Ethiraju, who was 20 years old when he along with others handcrafted the 'Sengol'.
According to reports, when India's independence was being formalised, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, asked the soon-to-be-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru how to symbolise the transfer of power from the British Empire to India. Mr Nehru reportedly sought the advice of C Rajagopalachari, the country's last Governor General.
Mr Rajagopalachari told Mr Nehru about the Tamil tradition of the high priest handing over a sceptre to a new king when the latter comes to power. This tradition was followed during the reign of the Cholas, and Mr Rajagopalachari suggested that it could be used to mark India's freedom from the Raj.
