'Sengol' Included in Class 9 NCERT Book; History Linked to Chola Era

The 'Sengol' has been featured in the new Class 9 Social Science textbook published by NCERT. The book describes the Sengol as a cultural symbol associated with governance and good governance, tracing its history back to the Chola dynasty.

NCERT has released the new Class 9 Social Science textbook, which covers various historical periods. The Sengol has been included in this new volume, where it is explained as a cultural symbol linked to governance and good governance, with its origins traced to the Chola dynasty. It is mentioned in the chapter that deals with governance systems and public policies. The book is titled *Understanding Society—India and Beyond: Social Science Textbook for Grade 9 (Part 2)*. It was released approximately six months into the academic session; the first part of the book had been released earlier in June.

The book notes that the Sengol was installed in the new Parliament building in 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi installed it in a glass case near the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair during the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28, 2023. The NCERT textbook presents the Sengol as a symbol of governance and good administration. It explains that the tradition of using the Sengol as a symbol of righteous governance (governance in accordance with *Dharma*) dates back over a thousand years and is linked to the Chola era.

Linked to the Transfer of Power at Independence

A chapter in this book also links the Sengol to the transfer of power during India's independence in 1947. It states that at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947—marking the moment of independence—the Sengol was presented to the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru by seers associated with the *Aadheenam* tradition of Tamil Nadu. During the inauguration of the new Parliament building in 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also described the Sengol as a symbol of the 1947 transfer of power. He noted that the process was carried out under the guidance of Rajaji and the *Aadheenam* tradition. However, the Congress party has raised questions regarding this claim. The party maintains that there is no documentary evidence to prove that Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajagopalachari, and Jawaharlal Nehru designated the Sengol as a symbol of the transfer of power from British rule to India.

A Symbol Linked to Tamil Tradition and Governance

According to the Ministry of Culture, the Sengol is a royal sceptre rooted in the spiritual and cultural traditions of ancient Tamil civilization. It was used in rituals associated with the coronation of Tamil kings. The Ministry describes it not merely as a ceremonial object, but as a symbol embodying the moral responsibilities of governance. According to the Ministry, the traditions surrounding the Sengol were revived at the time of independence in 1947, and a Sengol was handed over to Jawaharlal Nehru. It was crafted by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty and ritually consecrated by seers from the Thiruvavaduthurai *Aadheenam*.

The Book Will Also Explain Principles of Good Governance

In addition to the Sengol, the chapter on governance in the Class 9 Social Science textbook also mentions *Satyameva Jayate* and the Supreme Court's motto, *Yato Dharma Stato Jayaḥ* (Where there is righteousness, there is victory). The new book explains these symbols in the context of the values ​​associated with the system of governance. This chapter outlines the principles of good governance using the example of a banyan tree. These include participation, the rule of law, accountability, effectiveness, inclusivity, responsibility, and transparency.