Indian Rupee: Why is Gandhi's picture on Indian currency notes? RBI revealed, know the real reason

Indian Rupee: Mahatma Gandhi's picture on the Indian rupee is a familiar sight, but have you ever wondered why his picture was chosen? Why not the picture of any other freedom fighter, poet, or leader? The answer to this question has been given by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its recent documentary 'RBI Unlocked: Beyond the Rupee'. In this article, we will understand this interesting information in detail.

Why the picture of a famous person?

According to RBI, the idea of ​​printing a picture of a famous person on a bank note came because it makes the identification of the note easier. If the design of the note is not accurate, then the picture of a well-known personality helps in identifying fake and real notes. Keeping in mind the design and security features of the note in the Indian context, the names of many famous personalities were considered. These included names like Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. However, the final consensus was on the name of Mahatma Gandhi, and this is why his picture has been printed on the Indian rupee for decades.

What was on the rupee before independence?

During the British period, the Indian rupee used symbols associated with colonialism. These included flora, fauna (such as tigers, deer), and decorative images depicting the grandeur of the British Empire, such as ornate portraits of the king or decorative elephants. After independence, the design of the Indian rupee gradually changed. Initially, the lions of the Ashoka Pillar, famous sites, and other symbols were used. As India took the path of development and progress, the images printed on the rupee also started reflecting the country's achievements. Progress in the field of science was depicted through the picture of Aryabhatta and the Green Revolution through pictures of farmers.

The journey of Mahatma Gandhi's picture

According to the RBI website, Mahatma Gandhi's picture was first printed on the commemorative Rs 100 note on the occasion of his birth centenary in 1969. This note depicted his picture along with the Sevagram Ashram. After this, his picture started getting printed regularly on the Rs 500 note in 1987. Over time, new security features were needed to prevent counterfeit notes. With the development of reprographic technology in 1996, traditional security features became inadequate, and then the Mahatma Gandhi series was introduced, which included Gandhi's picture with new security features.

Distribution of Rupees across the country

RBI also explained in its recent documentary that an extensive transportation system is used to deliver the Indian Rupee to every corner of the country. It includes trains, waterways, and airplanes. This is the first time that RBI has presented its operations to the public through a documentary titled 'RBI Unlocked: Beyond the Rupee'. This documentary not only shows the design and history of the Rupee, but also highlights the functioning of the central bank.