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
