If Mahatma Gandhi wasn't India's first choice for banknotes then how did he become Rupee's forever face?

Time of India

18 hours ago

Walk into any shop in India, hand over a crumpled banknote, and you'll see a familiar face smiling back, bespectacled, serene, and instantly recognisable. Mahatma Gandhi doesn't just appear on our currency; he has become a quiet constant in our daily exchanges, silently passing through millions of hands each day. But the story of how he ended up there is far from straightforward. In fact, in the first flush of independence, Gandhi's portrait was rejected for Indian notes.
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Midnight on 14 August 1947 brought independence, but not yet a new currency. For a brief period, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) continued issuing colonial notes bearing King George VI. Behind closed doors, discussions began on what a truly Indian banknote should look like. The early idea was simple, replace the King's portrait with that of the Father of the Nation. Designs were prepared with Gandhi's image.
Then came a surprising turn. As the RBI recounts, the 'final analysis' shifted towards a non-personal symbol, the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. It was felt this emblem, drawn from India's ancient heritage, better captured the idea of a modern republic. So, in 1949, the new Re. 1 note appeared with the Lion Capital watermark, and Gandhi's portrait was shelved.
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In the following decades, Indian notes became miniature showcases of the country's identity and ambitions. Tigers, deer, and peacocks symbolised natural heritage. The Konark Wheel, Brihadeeswara Temple, and Hirakud Dam spoke of cultural pride and industrial progress. The Aryabhatta satellite hinted at a future in science and space. Currency in the 1950s and 60s was not about a single leader, it was about the nation as a whole.
Gandhi's First Appearance (1969)
It wasn't until Gandhi's birth centenary in 1969 that he made his first official appearance on a banknote. This commemorative design showed him seated, with Sevagram Ashram in the background, a gentle nod to his life of simplicity and service. The issue was special and short-lived, not yet a permanent feature of Indian currency.
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The real turning point came in 1987. The Rajiv Gandhi government reintroduced the Rs 500 denomination, and for the first time on a regular note, Gandhi's portrait appeared on its obverse. Still, he wasn't on every note. That came in 1996, when the RBI launched the Mahatma Gandhi Series, redesigned notes with improved security features and, for the first time, Gandhi's smiling face on all denominations.
In 2016, the 'New Series' kept Gandhi firmly in place while refreshing colours, sizes, and themes. From Rs 10 to Rs 2,000, he had become inseparable from the rupee.
Other Faces, Other Ideas
Over the years, there have been calls to share this space. Some have suggested Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, or even religious figures like Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. In 2016, the government clarified that a high-level committee had decided 'there is no need to change Mahatma Gandhi's photo on the currency notes.' Others have been honoured in different ways, Dr B. R. Ambedkar, for instance, was commemorated with special Rs 125 and Rs 10 coins. In 2022, a proposal from the Aam Aadmi Party to add Lakshmi and Ganesha sparked debate, with supporters citing prosperity and detractors warning against politicising or communalising currency design.
The Inescapable Mahatma
For all the discussion, Gandhi remains unshaken on our notes. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, 'Gandhi was inevitable… we may ignore him at our own risk.' On the rupee, his presence is more than decoration, it's a reminder of the values he championed: truth, non-violence, and unity in diversity.
Every time we pass a note across a counter, we're not just exchanging money. We're handing over a piece of history, one that almost didn't have Gandhi's face, but now, perhaps fittingly, cannot be imagined without it.