India is in search of a Rupee symbol. It's open only for Resident Indians and the symbol has to be in the Indian National Language Script or a visual representation...
As per BBC, according to one estimate, when the euro was introduced in 1999 it cost Europe's biggest companies more than $50bn to update their computer systems to deal with the changeover.
Here is another article from BBC regarding this Indian search.
Apparently, looks like Russia has been searching for a rouble symbol since 1999.
Nothing wrong in seeking for a new identity provided it adds value to the system! And i wonder how a symbol is going to add value to Rupee or Indian economy!!
Anyway, my first thought was why not it be a "0" (zero) with a horizontal line in the middle. Afterall, aren't we the guys who invented the concept of zero which in Sanskrit implies void, which in turn implies the Gandhian value of not attaching great importance to money or even buddhist value of not being materialistic... ;)
And the next thought was why not it be a half Aum symbol, only the 3 part with a horizontal line in the middle. Afterall, it is supposed to be a mystical symbol and symbolizes the Indian culture. But then, i rejected it as this goes against our pseudo secular nature ;)
Then came the thought of swastik symbol, which reminds of the Nazi era.
Finally, the best symbol could be an "I" with a horizontal line in the middle. "I" implies India. But then the problem is, in future when Rupee becomes a standard currency of the SAARC Region, "I" might not go well with other countries. (Thanks to a comment mentioned in one of the BBC articles)
And, there are 2 comments in favour of zero with a horizontal line in the BBC article. Apparently, one person wants to replicate national flag in the zero by having two horizontal lines. But this faces the same problem as the above "I" symbol. Maybe it can be a plain zero with 2 horizontal lines.
Finally, Here is a typeface designer's comments regarding the symbol in the BBC station.
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10 comments:
Zero? Well we'll all be the butt of everyone's jokes for sure...
Just had a brainwave: if Euro is like an epsilon, why not have lowercase rho ρ for the Rupee... Doesn't look flashy though...
hmmm...but it might not represent any Indian historical & cultural ethos.
Euro was designed as epsilon as it inturn seems to symbolize "E", the first letter of Europe.
We have still not completed the exercise of rebranding the flag carrier. At Delhi Airport i saw Indian Airlines, Indian and Air India all together and now you can start counting the contracts to paint the aircraft, new letterheads, visiting cards, logos, display boards, ad agency contracts. Good way of boosting economy ! and with Rs we will start more things. Imagine the trouble the world has when we rename our airports!
how about pi(л)?? although it can be misleading, the first look unless mentioned, reminds about lower case R
In my opinion, it can be a combination of our national symbols .. say for example .. a national bird + national flower .. a peacock + lotus put together.
@Amruth Raj
Your idea would be the find of the century if it were not for the need for the symbol to be included on the keyboard and be clear enough to be visible when printed along with other characters.
Raghu,
Yes, it looks quite similar to "r". But this doesn't come from an Indian National Language script...
Amruth,
What an idea :);) I am not able to imagine how it would be. Is it like peacock sitting in a lotus or peacock holding a lotus? :)
Here is my design for Indian Rupee http://samirshomepage.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/my-entry-for-rupee-symbol-design-contest
— Samir
Samir,
Thanks for the info. I have left my comment in your blog.
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