The row over the National Emblem ‘replica’  atop new Parliament building was best avoided

There is something about the new Parliament building that keeps it in the news for all the wrong reasons. Right from the beginning, questions were raised about the rationale behind starting it during the trying times of COVID and spending a fortune when the money was needed to provide beds and medical oxygen. Now the first glimpse of its Ashokan emblem has raised a storm. On Sunday, the Prime Minister unveiled Sunil Deore’s creation — the replica of Ashokan emblem at Sarnath with four lions symbolising the State and its might looking in four directions. The unveiling of the statue opened Pandora’s box. Asaduddin Owaisi said the replica should have been unveiled by Speaker Om Birla and not the PM as Parliament and all its paraphernalia is in the Speaker’s domain. Then other Opposition leaders also joined the chorus. No one cared to check the protocol or convention; if it was okay for the PM to unveil the statue in the first place. However, it is not such a big deal for which so much fuss should be created; after all, the PM is the representative of people and so his actions can be deemed people’s wish.

Another controversy about the emblem replica is more visible and even disturbing. The lions in the statue look furious and aggressive. They aren’t reassuring but menacing and do not make a comforting sight. Even ‘Satyamev Jayate’ is also not inscribed on the replica. Several leaders pointed to it, some even posted pictures of the Sarnath emblem with replica showing the stark difference. In his defence Sunil Deore, the co-sculptor, said the two looked different due to the angle, height and size of the emblem and there was hardly any difference between the two. Well, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion but, for us, the ‘emblem replica’ should have been an exact replica. It is not. You just can’t take creative liberties with national symbols. How about an oval chakra in the flag or adding a few lines to the National Anthem? This is not done, and shouldn’t be. Ram V Sutar did a great job in creating the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament and Sardar Patel Statue in Gujarat. Sunil and those who commissioned the

replica could have taken a cue from him. Let’s hope they are more mindful next time.