National Animal: TIGERWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?The tiger, long part of Indian mythology and folklore, was adopted as the National Animal by the Indian Board for Wildlife in 1972. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
National Flower: LOTUSWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?“There is hardly any symbolism in Indian poetry, sculpture and painting more extensive than that belonging to the lotus flower and other parts of the plant,” writes Thomas Kintaert in On the Cultural Significance of the Leaf of the Indian Lotus. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
National Tree: BANYANWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?Ficus benghalensis, the Indian Banyan, is native to the country and inseparable from its cultural beliefs. The sacred tree is said to be the resting place of Lord Krishna. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
National Bird: PEACOCKWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?The Indian Peafowl, commonly known as the peacock, was selected as the national bird in 1963. It was chosen from among other contenders—including the Great Indian Bustard, the Sarus crane, the mythical Garuda, and the swan—because of its distribution throughout India. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
National Aquatic Animal: GANGETIC DOLPHINWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?In 2009, the Manmohan Singh government notified the Gangetic Dolphin as the national aquatic animal to channel attention and resources towards conserving the species. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
National Fruit: MANGOWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?“Mangifera indica, or mango, is a very Indian fruit and adapts itself to all kinds of soil conditions—arid, semi-arid, wetlands and so on,” says Atul Sathe, communications manager, Bombay Natural History Society. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
National River: GANGAWHY WAS IT MADE A NATIONAL SYMBOL?The Ganga is India’s longest river (2,525 km) and is considered the holiest of rivers by Hindus. It was declared a national river by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2008 in order to achieve the objectives of the Ganga Action Plan, initiated by PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
Not Quite NationalMahatma GandhiThat man who can be credited with shaping an ideology in post-independent India cannot be dubbed the Father of the Nation. Well, not officially. Image by CHAITANYA DINESH SURPUR
