Older versions of the National Emblem also had lions with open mouths and visible fangs - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 14, 2022
In the context of the recent inauguration of a huge version of the National Emblem on the new Parliament building by PM Modi, a collage of two different photos is being shared widely on social media with a claim that it shows the difference between the old India and new India. In the photo on the right, the fangs of the lions can be seen in the National Emblem whereas, in the photo on the left, no such fangs can be seen. The visible fangs of the lions are being considered a recent addition to the National Emblem. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Open mouth and visible fangs of the lions are recent additions to the National Emblem. Older versions of the National Emblem have lions with closed mouths and no visible fangs.
Fact: The photo on the left in the collage, showing lions with their mouths closed is related to the National Emblem on the Karnataka Assembly building. The Lion Capitals (the Indian National Emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital) from Ashoka’s time also include lions with open mouths and visible fangs. Even in the photo of the National Emblem given in the ‘The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005’, which was passed much before the Modi government, lions can be seen with their mouths open. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Let us first find the location of both the photos in the collage. The photo on the left in the posted collage, showing lions with their mouths closed, is related to the National Emblem on the Karnataka Assembly building. The photo on the right in the posted collage, showing lions with their mouths open and fangs, was taken at the recent inauguration of a huge National Emblem on the new Parliament building. The Indian National Emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.
Does the old Ashokan capital have lions with closed mouths and no visible fangs?
On looking at the photos of Ashoka’s Sarnath Lion Capital, it can be seen that the lions were with open mouths and visible fangs. The related images and video can be seen here, here, here, and here. More information regarding Ashokan pillars can be read here.
Not only the Sarnath Lion Capital, but the Lion Capital on another Ashokan pillar also has a lion with an open mouth and visible fangs. The photos related to it can be seen here and here. So, the old Ashokan capitals also have lions with open mouths and visible fangs.
Did the Modi government modify the National Emblem by opening the mouths of the lions?
Even in the photo of the National Emblem given in the ‘The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005’, which was passed much before the Modi government, lions can be seen with their mouths open.
The posted photo was taken from a below the emblem, and the recently inaugurated National Emblem is a huge structure. So, it may appear that the mouths of the lions were wide open even compared to the original emblem. But, if one looks at the photo taken from the front, they are similar to lions in Ashoka’s Capital. However, ‘The Economic Times’ reported an official saying – “There is no other similar depiction of the emblem, from the perspective of material and craftsmanship, anywhere else in India”.
In the ‘Hindustan Times’ article, it can be read that some people were critical of the newly inaugurated National Emblem on the Parliament stating that it has ‘angry lions with bared fangs’ and ‘expression to swallow everything’. However, lions with bared fangs can be seen in the National Emblems installed earlier at several places. Some of them can be seen here, here, here, and here.
The tweets made by Hardeep Singh Puri (Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs) on the issue can be read here. He said that the emblem at the new parliament building is a perfect replica of the Sarnath Lion Capital.
One needs to appreciate the impact of angle, height & scale when comparing the two structures.
If one looks at the Sarnath emblem from below it would look as calm or angry as the one being discussed. pic.twitter.com/Ur4FkMEPLG
To sum it up, the older versions of the National Emblem also had lions with open mouths and visible fangs.