Why 'Fangs Of Furious Lions' On National Emblem Atop New Parliament Triggered A Controversy

The national emblem atop the new parliament building that was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has courted controversy over its appearance, which is different from the original.

Many on social media pointed out that the national emblem which was adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka doesn't depict aggressive, muscular lions as shown in the newly unveiled one.

What is the controversy?

"Since when did Ashoka’s lions bare their fangs? And they never snarled before," a Twitter user asked.

"From Gandhi to Godse; From our national emblem with lions sitting majestically & peacefully; to the new national emblem unveiled for the top of the new Parliament building under construction at Central Vista; Angry lions with bared fangs. This is Modi's new India!," lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan wrote.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Jawahar Sircar called it an insult to the national emblem.

"Insult to our national symbol, the majestic Ashokan Lions. Original is on the left, graceful, regally confident. The one on the right is Modi's version, put above the new Parliament building - snarling, unnecessarily aggressive, and disproportionate. Shame! Change it immediately," he wrote.

BCCL

"Narendra Modi Ji, please observe the face of the Lion, whether it is representing the statue of Great Sarnath or a distorted version of the GIR lion. Please check it and if it needs, mend the same, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said on Twitter.

“Each symbol reflects the inner thinking of the human being. Human beings use symbols to show the common man what is his nature,” the RJD asked on Twitter.

"BJP is changing the face of India. Ashoka's Lion Capital bears the history of justice, peace, and non-violence, and to turn it around a complete 180° and make it a snarling, vicious image is another ploy at erasing/rewriting/distorting history. Who authorised this change?" another Twitter user asked.

Totally avoidable?

Historian S Irfan Habib also objected to the national emblem unveiled atop the new Parliament building.

"Meddling with our national emblem was totally unnecessary and avoidable. Why should our lions look ferocious and full of angst? These are Ashoka's lions adapted by independent India in 1950," Habib said.

BCCL

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday unveiled the cast of the national emblem atop the new Parliament building in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.?

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