Photo-ops in the House

After a month of recrimination and boycott, government and opposition leaders hushed the rhetoric for just a few moments. With half a dozen more portraits ready to be unveiled, can we expect a few more bursts of non-partisan solemnity? Not necessarily. Remember the controversy over Veer Savarkar this February?

To be sure, divisions in Sansad Bhavan go beyond the partisan politics of portraiture. Former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma, for instance, often argued that commissioning a portrait or statue must be an extremely selective exercise. The current speaker, Manohar Joshi, on the other hand, has averred that he’s loath to spike any new additions in Central Hall or the luxurious lawns beyond. Given the fact that the presiding officer of Lok Sabha is a key decision-maker in this activity, the 13th Lok Sabha has predictably been punctuated with a series of unveiling ceremonies.

Each argument has its merits. While Parliament cannot be reduced to a picture gallery, its tributes too must not remain frozen.

Determining the limits of representation, of course, involves more than measuring precious wall space in Central Hall. If the Savarkar spat highlighted the tensions in accommodating a wider ideological spectrum, this week’s inclusion of Chattopadhyay and Islam extends just that little bit more the categories of herohood.

In conferring national honours like those on Republic Day, the government has gradually eased qualifications to embrace those with non-political backgrounds. A similar relaxation is bound to happen in other forums, like Parliament. It must.

The process is bound to be controversial, but it is to be hoped that it will encourage informed debate on the contributions, and mistakes, of men and women who have shaped modern Indian history and culture.