India's Rich Democratic Legacy: From Uttaramerur to Anubhava Mandapa

The recent inauguration of the new Parliament building marked a significant milestone in India’s 76-year history of Independence. For the first time, Indians have constructed a Parliament that is entirely their own, free from the influence of a colonial legacy. While the older Sansad Bhawan held great historical importance in Indian politics, the new Parliament building seeks to emphasise the spirit of democracy from an Indian perspective. In doing so, it reaches back to the rich heritage of democracy that India possesses through references to Indian history, through maps and murals. The symbolic placing of the Sengol signifies this continuity with change and tradition with modernity.