As the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi seems like an obvious choice to be the face of Indian money. His picture didn’t appear on official banknotes printed by the RBI, which serves as both the country’s central bank and the supervisory body over the Indian banking industry, until 1996.
Gandhi’s Portrait on Indian Currency
- Photographic Source: Gandhi’s image on Indian banknotes is a cut-out from a 1946 photo of him with British politician Lord Frederick William Pethick-Lawrence, not a caricature.
- Expression Is Important: The portrait is a mirror image of the cut-out, and it was selected because it perfectly captures Gandhi’s happy
face. - Unknown Cameramen: It’s interesting that neither the photographer nor the person who chose the image are known.
Currency Design Process
- RBI’s Responsibilities: The Department of Currency Management of the RBI is in charge of creating rupee notes, pending Union government and central bank clearance.
- Regulatory Framework: The RBI Act, 1934, Section 25, stipulates that the central government must approve the design, form, and material of banknotes after taking the central board’s recommendations into account.
Gandhi’s Debut on Indian Currency
- 1969 Commemoration: In 1969, Gandhi made his debut on Indian banknotes as part of a limited series released to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth. These notes, signed by RBI governor LK Jha, showed Gandhi with the Sevagram Ashram.
- 1987 Inclusion: A batch of Rs 500 banknotes with images of Gandhi were unveiled in October 1987.
The Transition to Independent India’s Banknotes
- Post-Independence Currency: The RBI first issued colonial-era notes featuring King George VI after India attained independence in August 1947.
- Continuity of Design: The Lion Capital watermark was included on the banknotes that were subsequently released in 1950 in the values of Rs 2, 5, 10, and 100, so preserving the continuity of
the prior designs.
Gandhi’s Permanence on Banknotes
- Security Concerns in the 1990s: As reprographic technology advanced, the RBI realized in the 1990s that currency notes needed to have more security features. It was decided that human faces were less likely to be faked than inanimate items.
- Sustaining in 2016: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan logo and improved security features were added to the Gandhi portrait on the “Mahatma Gandhi New Series” banknotes, which were released in 2016.
Conclusion
- Gandhi’s Lasting Legacy: The fact that Mahatma Gandhi is featured on Indian banknotes is evidence of his lasting influence on the history
and ideals of the country. - Challenges to Change: Gandhi’s symbolism and significance on banknotes are unshakable, reflecting his towering prominence in India’s collective consciousness, despite the numerous proposals that have surfaced over the years.
