MP flips through history to write book on BJP’s lotus

The author of the book and MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra said: “It was in 1980 that the lotus was adopted as the BJP symbol. I happen to be part of the committee which chose the symbol. “In 1985, Atalji asked us to prepare a pamphlet on the symbol to distribute among the people. In order to make them aware of the symbolic value of lotus in our ancient culture.” Well, the pamphlet grew in size from two pages to 200 and Malhotra found lotus was omnipresent in ancient cultures.“Greece to Mesopotamia, there is not a single civilisation which does not relate to lotus. It is present in every ancient architecture, literature, even medicine. It continues to be present in our lives look at the computer,” said Maholtra, whose book is an encyclopedic treatise on the lotus.

When such is the symbolic value, it was but expected that the BJP leadership would change their earlier symbol of `lamp’ with the `lotus’. Prime Minister Vajpayee said: “We wanted to have a symbol that could inspire people in times of difficulties like the lamp did. Some suggested we take ladder as we had to climb up, some suggested a lantern. “But lotus was the perfect symbol, reminding us of humility and purity in the surrounding slush and mud of politics.” The book, which is dedicated to RSS Chief Professor Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya), has some rare plates dating back to first century BC. It was the big `do’ at the PM’s house, which few missed.