It's not just about money, honey

Bangaloreans clearly don't consider the new symbol for the Indian rupee as a mere sign. Priyanjali Ghose records the strong views of those for and against the design

Bangaloreans clearly don't consider the new symbol for the Indian rupee as a mere sign. Priyanjali Ghose records the strong views of those for and against the design

India will finally have a symbol for the national currency.
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The symbol, which combines the Devnagiri 'Ra' and the Roman capital 'R', has two parallel lines running at the top that stand for the peace and harmony inherent in Indian culture.

Dr Udaya Kumar, a postgraduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) presented this design as a part of a contest announced by the Indian government in the concluding months of 2009.

The symbol, which combines the Devnagiri 'Ra' and the Roman capital 'R', has two parallel lines running at the top that stand for the peace and harmony inherent in Indian culture.

Kumar won Rs 2.5 lakh for his design which was chosen from five short-listed ones.

In six months, the symbol will be used within the country while it will be used on the global platform in the next 24 months.

Thumbs up

It looks great. It is a seamless marriage between the Devnagri and the Roman script. I am happy that Indian currency has a symbol at last.
Harish Bijoor (55), Brand consultant

It looks interesting to me. I am happy our currency now has symbol for the global platform.
Rajesh Nair (32), Designer

The design has a cultural impact. It resembles the Sanskrit script. Compared to symbols of currencies, this one looks more ethnic. I like it.
Anthony Anand (40), Photographer

It is innovative but also represents our culture as it looks like Ra in Hindi.
Krishna Prasad, (29), Entrepreneur

Thumbs Down

The design is funny and unappealing. It looks like a Nazi symbol. It gives the rupee a forced religious look.
Benny Mohan, (24), Marketing Manager
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There is nothing Indian about the design. There is no clear meaning to it. It looks ambiguous.
Archana KM, (22),u00a0 Student

The symbol looks like it is a Roman sign. It conveys nothing Indian. Instead, we shouldu00a0 have had INR (Indian Rupee) as the symbol.
Vikram Singh, (30), Senior manger

I am not happy with the design. While it is nice we at last have a symbol, however, it does not look Indian. It looks foreign to me.
Haseena Jabeen, (52), Housewife