'Sengol' to be moved from Nehru Gallery of Allahabad Museum to new Parliament building
New Delhi (PTI): The ceremonial sceptre 'Sengol' that was given to first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to symbolise the transfer of power in August 1947 was kept in the Nehru Gallery of the Allahabad Museum and has been moved to Delhi for its installation in the new building of Parliament, official sources have said.
Made of silver with a coat of gold, the historical sceptre will be installed near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker on May 28, the same day the new Parliament building will be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference here, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Sengol symbolises the transfer of power from British to India, just as it was originally used to mark the handing over power from one king to another during the Chola dynasty in Tamil Nadu.
He later also launched a website sengol1947ignca.in which has background information on its significance, along with short documentaries. A small film on Sengol and the transfer of power, based on media reports of that time, was also played during the press conference.
"Our government is of the opinion that keeping this sacred 'Sengol' in a museum is inappropriate. For installation of the 'Sengol', no other place can be more suitable, sacred and appropriate than the building of Parliament," he told reporters.
So, when the new Parliament building will be dedicated to the nation, on the same day, Modi, with a lot of humility, will accept the Sengol from an Adheenum from Tamil Nadu, and "with a lot of respect, will place it near the chair of the Lok Sabha Speaker", Shah said.
The Adheenams a non-brahmin Saivite order date back over five hundred years. The transfer of power during Chola times was sanctified by Saivite high priests. C Rajagopalachari had then requested the leader of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency) to do the same, for power to pass on to Indian hands from the British, according to information provided on the new website.
The leader of the Adheenam immediately commissioned jeweller Vummidi Bangaru Chetty for the preparation of the 'Sengol' (five feet in length). The official website of Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, mentions about the sceptre and also carries a rare photograph of Nehru that is also featured in the short film on Sengol.
Vummidi Ethirajulu, 96, and Vummidi Sudhakar, 88, two people involved in the making of the original Sengol are expected to attend the new Parliament building inauguration function.
Official sources here told PTI on Wednesday that the Sengol has been "moved to Delhi from the Allahabad Museum".
"The ceremonial sceptre was kept at the Allahabad Museum, along with several other historical objects associated with Jawaharlal Nehru, as part of the Nehru Gallery of the museum," a source said.
The foundation stone of the present building of the museum was laid on December 14, 1947 by Nehru and it was opened to the public in 1954 at the time of Kumbh Mela, a senior official of the museum said.
The two-storey building is located in Chandrashekhar Azad Park (earlier Alfred Park) of the Company Bagh area in Allahabad (now Prayagraj).
The museum has 16 galleries, including terracotta gallery, archaeological gallery, miniature painting collection, modern Indian panting collection, and arms, armour and bronze collection. Nehru Gallery is located on the first floor.
In the year 1986, after realising the significance of the diversity of its rich collections of archaeological artifacts, art treasures, the museum was taken over by the Ministry of Culture, after constituting an autonomous body called Allahabad Museum Society, and declared it a museum of national importance under the Ministry of Culture, according to the museum's website.
At present, the museum is under the financial control of the Ministry of Culture. The Allahabad Museum had recently taken part in the three-day International Museum Expo held in Delhi, which was inaugurated by Modi on May 18, coinciding with the International Museum Day.
"The Nehru Gallery has among other rare items, the original manuscripts of Nehru's autobiography -- volumes I and II, various caskets an ceremonial addresses given to him at many events, gifts and other souvenirs. One of the objects is a sandalwood-made chariot depicting Arjuna led by Lord Krishna, gifted to Nehru by Hubli Municipal Corporation," another senior official of the museum told PTI, on the condition of anonymity.
Sengol is a word derived from the Tamil word 'Semmai', meaning 'righteousness.'
The ornamental sceptre is crowned with the sacred Nandi, with its unyielding gaze. The Nandi on top of the 'Sengol' is symbol of 'nyaya.'
"Sengol represents the same feeling that Jawaharlal Nehru felt on August 14, 1947," Shah said.
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
