Gold Sengol: Symbol of power handed over by Mountbatten to Jawaharlal Nehru

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Sengol (sceptre) will be installed as a symbol of power in the new Parliament. The historic golden sceptre will be installed near the Speaker's seat. Amit Shah also said that it is the sceptre handed over by the British to the Indians as part of the transfer of power that will be installed in Central Vista. Amit Shah added that the plan to install the sceptre is a reflection of Prime Minister Modi's vision. This sceptre, kept in a museum at Prayag Raj, has many peculiarities. Know what they are.

History of the Sceptre

The word 'Sengol' is derived from the Tamil word 'Semmai' which means 'Righteousness'. The Sengol was presented by the British to Jawaharlal Nehru, who was then the caretaker Prime Minister when India got independence. A question from Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, is what led to the birth of the sceptre. Mountbatten asked 'what will be used to indicate that a transfer of power has taken place'? During the reign of the Cholas the tradition of handing over the 'Sengol' to the new king used to take place. This was considered and the 'Sengol' became a sign of the transfer of power.

C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor General, contacted the Thiruvavaduthurai Aatheenam, a prominent Mutt in present-day Tamil Nadu. The sceptre was then made by Madras jeweler Vummidi Bangaru Chetty under their supervision. The Nandi bull, a symbol of purity and justice, was also placed on top of the five feet long sceptre. At midnight exactly 15 minutes before independence, the sceptre anointed with Ganges water was presented to the nation.

Now stored at

After the transfer of power, this sceptre was sent to the Allahabad Museum. About a year and a half ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked about the sceptre and its historical significance, but no one had any idea where the sceptre was kept. Months of searching followed in palaces and museums. Finally, the authorities informed the government that the sceptre was in the Allahabad Museum.