– Hridaynarayan Dixit
India’s mind is full of joy. On May 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament House. This will be a golden chapter in history. But even on this occasion of Indian self-respect, about one and a half dozen political parties are boycotting the programme. They are baking their political breads even on this occasion of national importance. Home Minister Amit Shah termed it as cheap politics and said, ‘The new Parliament House is a beautiful attempt to connect the country’s cultural heritage, tradition and civilization with modernity. Everyone has been invited to participate in this program to witness this historic event.
He has said that this program should not be linked with politics. This is a great moment to connect with Indian traditions and modernity. The history of this place is also important. Delhi has been the main center of power for many centuries. The British power initially established its capital in Calcutta and later Delhi. The then ruler King George I laid its foundation stone on 12 December 1911. The new city was planned by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Albert Baker. After about twenty years the plan was completed. Delhi was declared the capital on 13 February 1931. The new building has many specialties.
‘Sengol’ will be installed near the seat of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in the newly constructed Parliament House. It is a five feet long punishment made of silver. It has gold polish on it. The Chola Empire existed for about eight hundred years from the eighth century onwards. The transfer of power in the Chola Empire used to happen through this ‘Sengol’. It was prepared by the Tiruvaduthurai Math in Tamil Nadu on the suggestion of the learned statesman C. Rajagopalachari. On top of it stands Nandi, the protector and symbol of justice, with an unflinching gaze.
The Cholas were Shiva worshippers. Sengol is derived from the Tamil language word Semmai. It means righteousness and truth. The Sengol scepter was a symbol of the power and authority of the Indian ruler. On 14 August 1947, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru accepted Sengol from the people of Tamil Nadu. For the transfer of power from the British, Rajaji suggested taking inspiration from the transfer of power from the Chola dynasty. During the transfer of power from one king to another in the Chola dynasty, the blessings of the priests were taken. There was also a symbolic transfer of sengol. The Chola dynasty was renowned for its exceptional contribution to the preservation of architecture and culture. Sengol was prepared by Thiruvaduthurai Math in Tamil Nadu following the suggestion of C. Rajagopalachari.
The whole of India is connecting with the beauty of the new Parliament House and the ancient tradition of the Chola Empire. Parliament is the living authority of the Indian constitutional system. The Parliament has legislative and constitutional powers. The stream of democracy has been flowing in India even before the creation of Rigveda. Here there has been an atmosphere of argument and counter-argument regarding the deities as well. European scholars call the British Parliament the mother of world democracy. In fact, democracy and parliamentary institutions were born and developed in India itself during the Vedic period. Sabha and Samitis are in Rigveda. The Mahabharata is divided into 18 Parvas. The name of a festival is the assembly festival. Discussions on topics of social importance used to take place in the Sabha Samiti during the Vedic period itself. While saluting cows, a sage of Rigveda says, ‘O mother cow, you are discussed in the assembly.’
Mutual discussion has been of special importance in the Indian tradition. In a mantra of the Atharvaveda (7.1.63) the sage says, ‘Sabha and Samiti are the duhitas of Prajapati. May they protect me. Give me the best education Seniors gathered in the house should make a proper speech. Vedic literature is full of references to Sabha and Samiti. In a mantra of the Atharvaveda it is said, ‘Let the assembly protect us. May his decent councilors protect me.’ (15.9.2) It is said in a mantra of Rigveda, ‘You make your house decent. May your speech be gentle and you stay in the assembly forever.’ (6.28.6) Long stay in the assembly was a matter of prestige. Another mantra in the Rigveda praises the gathering goers. It is said that, ‘He always goes to the meeting.’ Sabhas and Samitis were not ordinary gatherings. The Sabha was a well organized body. Its members were called sabhayas or sabheyas.
The assembly was active and vibrant in the nation and districts in the Vedic period itself. All the democratic elements like speaking sweetly, giving beautiful arguments, listening to the arguments of the opposition had developed in the Vedic period. The framers of the Indian constitution adopted the parliamentary system. It was convenient for India to accept it. India’s intelligence was already democratic. The people of India did not find any difficulty in adopting the parliamentary system. Our Parliament has made laws on complex and complicated subjects with patience and seriousness. Of course, during the constitutional emergency, the entire opposition was in jail. There was a historic crisis on the parliamentary system. Many important constitutional amendments were also passed in the absence of the opposition. But Parliament made necessary amendments after the Emergency. Parliament is the mind mirror of Indian intelligence and conscience. Still sometimes there is a deadlock in the Parliament. The proceedings of the Parliament come to a standstill. Bharat’s heart becomes sad. But the parliamentary system solves its own difficulties and challenges.
The new Parliament House has become the attraction of the world since its inauguration. We are the largest democracy in the world. All the parliamentary institutions of the world look towards India and get inspired. On the first day of entering the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his reverence towards the Parliament by bowing his head on the stairs. It was a historic emotional moment. The Prime Minister has a deep respect for the Constitution and its institutions. The respect of the executive towards the legislature and the judiciary is worth noting. Parliamentary culture has a long history from the parliamentary institutions of the Vedic period thousands of years ago to the modern times. There is cultural continuity here. By law, on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Parliament House, all parties, leaders and members of Parliament should witness the inauguration together. The Parliament House is not an ordinary construction. In every part and particle of this building, there is a flow of Lokmangal of the nation. As temples are not ordinary buildings, a special type of electromagnetic current flows inside the temples. Similarly, in every part of the Parliament House, there is a living power of democratic consciousness. That’s why everyone should gather together on this occasion. Some political parties are also using this opportunity to oppose Modi. This is inappropriate Parliament House should be viewed with reverence and respect.
(The author is a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.)
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