V. Naidu, Ex Vice President, India
The new Parliament building is a majestic symbol of the vibrant democratic traditions of our great nation and an architectural marvel which mirrors the aspirations of over 1.3 billion Indians. The proposed unveiling of this new building which is in the heart of the freshly-designed Central Vista, on Sunday, May 28, by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, marks a new chapter in the journey of the world’s largest democracy towards a better and brighter future, as an Atmanirbhar Bharat marches with confidence and self-assurance into Amrit Kaal. As we celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav marking 75 years of Independence across the country, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla, will dedicate the grand new building of Parliament to the nation. In a commendable gesture of humility and inclusivity, around 60,000 Shram Yogis (labourers), who built the new Parliament building in record time, will be felicitated by Prime Minister Shri Modi on the occasion.
India’s present parliament house, where I have spent many years as a Member of the Rajya Sabha and later as its Chairman, is a building from the colonial era and has severe limitations of space for its members and staff. It was designed and built close to a hundred years ago by renowned architects of the time, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The circular, colosseum-like look adds to the grandeur of what was originally meant to be the Council House.
While it is widely believed that the shape was inspired by the Chausath Yogini temple in Morena of Madhya Pradesh, many experts say that there is no historical evidence to support this hypothesis. The building went through some modifications over the past few decades, many of which have been ad-hoc in nature, in order to serve the needs of contemporary times.
From personal experience, I can say that the new building fulfils a pressing need for more space and facilities in a structure that would meet the requirements of the MPs and a large pool of employees. Moreover, the current strength of the Lok Sabha stands at 545 based on the delimitation exercise carried out as far back as 1971. This figure is likely to go up significantly after 2026. The other interesting feature is that the existing building and the new Parliament building will work in conjunction as an ensemble to facilitate efficiency and smooth functioning.
During my tenure as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the plans of the new impressive building were shared with me and the Lok Sabha Speaker through a series of presentations. Based on our experience, we made a few key suggestions at the time which have been incorporated into the final design.
The building’s architecture draws richly from India’s cultural heritage and Bharatiya identity. Rooted in Indian culture with prominent symbols such as the national bird of peacock and flower of lotus, the new Parliament building is an aesthetic synthesis of ancient Indian cultural traditions and modernity which is heightened in the use of the Sengol, an iconic symbol of the Chola era in Tamil Nadu, representing transfer of power from one ruler to the next. The Sengol has immense significance because at around 10.45 PM on August 14, 1947, late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru received this Sengol from Tamil Nadu, and in the presence of several senior leaders, accepted it as a symbol of achieving independence. The Sengol is venerated as an emblem of authority of and is of great significance.
The use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies highlights India’s unwavering commitment to promoting environmental consciousness and eco-friendly measures. State-of-the-art technological tools, enable seamless connectivity and communication among the nation’s law-makers and provide the right ambience for debates, discussions and informed decision-making.
The new Parliament building would certainly serve as a catalyst for positive change and therefore, it is only fitting that this beacon of hope, unity, inclusivity, as also the highest of democratic ideals, is inaugurated by the nation’s elected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The act of dedicating to the nation, this new building of Parliament, a glowing symbol of our vibrant democracy, should galvanize all political parties to come together, rise above party lines and ideological differences and respect the sanctity and solemnity of the occasion.
In order to strengthen democracy and demonstrate our commitment to the fundamental principle of parliamentary democratic traditions wherein Janata is considered Janardhan, forging unity across all divides, is the pressing need of the hour. People’s representatives in the Treasury benches as well as the Opposition benches, both in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, therefore, must embark on a fresh journey in the finest of democratic traditions. Marking a new chapter, they must utilize the environs of the new building of Parliament to debate, deliberate, discuss and decide and not to disrupt proceedings of Parliament. I earnestly hope that the inauguration of the new building of Parliament will usher in an era of meaningful dialogue and purposeful discussions among all sides of the political spectrum. I am certain that representatives of all parties will strive to strengthen democracy and devote themselves to building a strong, stable, prosperous, egalitarian and happy India.
Jai Hind!
