 |  |
The press release from the Reserve Bank of India about the new Rs. 2 coin (image on the top left) is rather benign. Describing one side of the new Ferritic Stainless Steel coin, the press note says
The reverse face of the coin shows stylised representation of "Unity in Diversity" a defining characteristic of our country. The symbol shall be seen as four heads sharing a common body. It shall be thought of as people from all four parts of the country coming together under one banner and identifying with one nation. [Press Release]
It is indeed a great idea to show unity in diversity in a country like India and it has been attempted before in memorable Films Divisions animations. But the symbol which they chose for the new coin shows utter lack of creativity and also resembles the Christian Cross as seen on the Gold Coins issued by Louis the Pious (Image on the top right).
This Cross by Louis the Pious later evolved into the Jerusalem Cross used during the crusades. Also it turns out that the stylized version of the cross as seen in the coin has been plagiarized from the Stylized cross found in the fields of Norfolk in the 16th and 17th centuries. (The RBI changed Stylized Cross to Stylized Representation in the press release).
Suddenly it feels like we are being governed by the Vatican.
Comments (4)
Please sign the online petition to the President of India for withdrawal of these coins, following is the link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/cross2cn/
Posted by Siddhartha Gupta | March 29, 2007 6:39 AM
Posted on March 29, 2007 06:39
Yeah! It did look like a cross. There was a huge cry by a group of concerned citizens, consisting of one retired tambram IAS officer and his imaginary friends, about this issue in the major national newspaper to be published only in Kodambakkam, called NewsToday.
I am sure that article will have far-reaching effects and influence policy.
Posted by Ravages | April 7, 2007 9:01 PM
Posted on April 7, 2007 21:01
RBI did not say why want a new Re2 coin. No mention of inflation and they still keep buying dollars and pumping rupee into market. Supporting exporters and not domestic growth - No Aam Aadmi here.
Posted by Sridhar | April 10, 2007 2:06 PM
Posted on April 10, 2007 14:06
This 2 Rupee Coin of 2006 with a cross on one side and deleting the words 'Satyameva Jayate' from the Indian State Emblem is not accpetable.
These Coins should be withdrawn ASAP
Posted by Ravi C Anupam | April 17, 2007 10:27 PM
Posted on April 17, 2007 22:27