MAJESTIC AND MAGNIFICIENT NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN CENTRAL VISTA
Central Vista was
renamed as Kartavya Path.
The original proposal for a new parliament building to
replace the existing complex due to stability concerns with the older structure
was mooted by the then speaker Meira Kumar in 2012. At that time, as the old
parliament building which was built by the Britishers 93 years ago, was suffering from inadequate space apart
from its structural stability risks and being not earthquake-proof.
The Meira Kumar’s proposal was taken up by Modi in
2019 in right earnest and the Indian government launched the Central Vista
Redevelopment Project, which included the construction of a new parliament
building along with other projects in New Delhi, including revamping Kartavya
Path, construction of a new residence for the vice president, a new office and
residence for the prime minister and combining all ministerial buildings in a
single central secretariat.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction was
held in October 2020, and the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on 10 December 2020. The ceremony included an interfaith prayer
service, performed by religious leaders.
The opposition parties who were for a new parliament
building as proposed by Meira Kumar in 2012 were vehemently opposed the
constructions of new parliament house, when Modi was taking concrete steps.
They had even gone to the apex court to thwart the
constructions of the new parliament house, but, fortunately, the Supreme Court
had dismissed the opposition parties’ designs to stop the constructions of the
new parliament house.
The opposition parties had gone to the extent of
saying that PM Modi was constructing his own palatial building, though in the
entire project construction of PM and Vice-President residences are only part
of the entire projects which involves constructions of buildings to house many
ministries under one roof.
The New Parliament building is triangular in shape
having a four-storey structure with a seating capacity of 1,224, at a cost of
Rs 970 crore. Bimal Patel of HCP Designs, Ahmedabad, is the architect in charge
of the building, and according to Patel, the construction is
earthquake-resistant.
On 12th July 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
unveiled the 9,500-kg National Emblem atop the new Parliament building in Delhi
in a special ceremony that was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union
Housing Minister Hardeep Puri. The emblem is an adaption of the Lion Capital of
Ashoka at Sarnath.
Here again the opposition parties had raised
objections to the bronze replica of the national emblem atop the new parliament
building stating that the lions are aggressive with protruding teeth
representing Modi’s aggressive nationalism instead of protective nationalism.
The National Emblem after Independence was designed by
Dinanath Bhargava on the basis of
Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka, Varnasi, UP. Sarnath Stupa was erected in commemoration of
Gautama Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath.
In designing the emblem, the original Ashoka Pillar
with four lions might have gone some changes for artistic and aesthetic values
which are permissible. Further as there are four lions – only three lions are
visible – their features also differ. Above all, a bell-shaped lotus on which
the four lions rest was omitted when designing the emblem. If you have a close
look of the bronze replica of our national emblem atop the new parliament house
building, you will see that it resembles original Sarnath Statue of Lions, if
not the Designed Adopted National Emblem.
The Opposition Parties had vehemently protested for
the inauguration of the opening of New Parliament Building by Modi and wanted
it should be done by the President whose election the same opposition parties
had opposed even though she belongs to a tribal community. Hence it was not
their love of the present President of India but it was a clear case of 100%
hate of Modi – Oppose Modi whatever he does – policy! As there are plenty of
past evidences wherein the then Prime Ministers had inaugurated in similar
occasions, the opposition stands were purely political devoid of any substance,
logic or justice.
The opposition parties had found objections even in
the conduct of inauguration with Hindu rituals, installation of Sengol and
participation of around 20 Adheenams from Tamilnadu etc.
The controversy around installation of Sengol on the
right side of Lok Sabha Speaker’s seat needs to be analyzed in detail so as to
bring forth the fallacies of those who oppose it.
Sengol is a symbol like our national emblem.
Our National Emblem is a replica of Sarnath Capitol of
Lions in order to honour Budha’s first sermon. It has four lions, four Dharma
Chakras with 24 spokes, a horse, a bull, an elephant and a lion. Each Lion
stands above each Dharma Chakra. Satyameva Jayate – is taken from Mundaka
Upanishad.
It was officially acknowledged that the four Asiatic
Lions symbolizes four Characteristics of the nation viz. power, courage,
confidence and pride. Hence the features of four lions should be different to
replicate these four qualities of the nation.
To expect the Loins to be soft, benign and subservient,
the essence of symbolism in our National Emblem to represent four
characteristics of the nation – power, courage, confidence and pride – will be
lost to say the least.
Once National Emblem was designed and approved by the then governing body, then it cannot be equated with either Buddhism or Hinduism, but, becomes Nations’ Virtues to be respected and adorned by one and all Indians irrespective of their religious faiths.
Similarly, Sengol which was received by Jawaharlal
Nehru with reverence – even Nehru accepting the application of Sacred Ash of
Shiva in his forehead during the ceremony -was somehow abandoned and it became
a show piece in Allahabad Museum as Nehru’s Golden Walking Stick.
The entire episode was fact checked with different
sources – even Mahaperiyava of Kanchi Mutt had acknowledged the ceremony of
Sengol representing the symbolic transfer of power from the British to India –
first Thiruvaduthurai Atheenam handing over Golden Sengol to Mountbatten which
he handed back to the seer who purified Sengol with Ganga Water to hand over
back to Nehru with chanting of Thirugnana Sambandar Devaram – Koloru Pathigam
and playing of Mangala Isai by Thiruvaduthurai Nathaswara Vidwan Rajaratnam
Pillai.
The Opposition Parties’ boycott of the inauguration of
the New Parliament Building was really strange, unethical, undemocratic and
anti-national. Further the same opposition parties were criticizing the Modi’s
ceremonious installation of Sengol to its right place – i.e. on the right side
of Speaker’s seat in the Lok Sabha Hall and the entire nation was watching the
strange and disgusting behavior of some opposition parties in not paying their
respects to Sengol – Symbol to Rule Justly without prejudice or favor to none.
Now New Parliament House and Sengol become the pride
of India.
Article 1 of the Constitution declares thus: Name and territory of the Union.—(1) India
that is Bharat shall be a Union of States.
Hence the Constitution of India had declared INDIA AS BHARAT which means that the traditions and cultures of our Ancient Civilization should be adhered, preserved and honoured by all Indians so that Bharat will become a friend, philosopher and guide to the whole world.
Modi Government had
already made the whole world to know the rich traditions, cultures, customs and
ceremonies which were kept alive from time immemorial by rulers and subjects
since long in Our Bharat. Our Bharat is rooted in such things which give us a
unique entity in the comity of nations.
Rig Veda declares: Let Noble Thoughts Come To Us From
Every Side.
Let us pray God to bestow the opposition parties with Noble Thoughts about Bharat and its cultures/customs.
Let not a few Opposition
Parties spoil the spirit of the Constitution and jeopardize our Bharat’s
Ancient Traditions and Culture through their prism of Narrowism.
SATYAMEVA JAYATE – BHARAT MATA KI JAI.
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