Celebrate National Flag Day by Learning About the Tricolors Origins, Significance, Evolution and Designer

On National Flag Day, Honor the Origins and Ideals that Shaped the Symbol of India’s Unity and Pride

Because the tricolor was officially adopted as India’s national flag in 1947 the country commemorates National Flag Day on July 22 each year. 

On July 22, 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru’s motion to adopt the national flag for free India was reportedly the first topic of discussion when the members of the Indian Constituent Assembly convened in Delhi’s Constitution Hall. 

In the meeting it was suggested that the Indian national flag should be a horizontal tricolor of dark green white and deep saffron (kesari) in equal proportion. . The wheel of the white band would be navy blue (charkha). 

Jawaharlal Nehru India’s first prime minister raised the Indian national flag at the Red Fort on August 16 1947 after the meeting had discussed the finer points. 

The government states that the flag’s width to length ratio should be two to three. The wheel should have 24 spokes and a diameter that is roughly equal to the white bands width.

Background of the Flag

It is believed that the first Indian national flag was created in 1904 by Sister Nivedita, an Irish follower of Swami Vivekananda. This flag featured the vajra (thunderbolt) symbol and a white lotus in the center and it was red and yellow in color. The Bengali words Vande Mataram were inscribed on it. 

Another flag with two symbols – the sun and the star – was created in 1906 and featured three colors: blue, yellow and red. Vande Mataram was also inscribed on this flag. 

The same flag appeared in orange, yellow and green variations that same year. The Lotus flag or Calcutta flag are other names for this flag.

Madame Cama raised the Indian flag in Germany in 1907 with her band of exiled revolutionaries. As part of the Home Rule Movement Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak adopted a different flag in 1917. 

In large part the Indian freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya is responsible for the design of the country’s flag. It is believed that during the second Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) in South Africa Venkayya met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time. At the time he served in the British Indian Army. 

Venkayya spent many years researching flag design and even published a book in 1916 that included potential designs. 

In 1921 Venkayya presented Gandhi with a basic flag design at the All India Congress Committee in Bezwada. Before the Congress Committee in Karachi adopted the tricolor as India’s national flag in 1931 the design underwent a number of revisions. 

Importance and Attentiveness

On National Flag Day we honor the flag and take a moment to consider the ideals and sacrifices made during India’s independence movement. Schools, government offices and other organizations frequently host ceremonies to honor the national symbol and inform the public of its significance. 

Every Indian is reminded of their shared identity and the principles that the flag represents on India’s National Flag Day. It is a potent representation of the nation’s rich history and continuous quest for development and unification. 

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The Flags Art and Meaning

Three horizontal stripes of equal width make up the Tiranga, the Indian national flag. Kesaria or saffron is the top stripe and stands for bravery and selflessness. The navy blue Ashoka Chakra (wheel) in the center of the white middle stripe represents the eternal wheel of law and peace and truth. The green bottom stripe represents growth and good fortune. Continuous progress is symbolized by the Ashoka Chakra 24 spokes and the flags 2:3 proportions. 

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The Indian Flag Code

In 2002 India’s Flag Code was changed to permit its citizens to fly and use the national flag with dignity and respect on any day not just on national holidays as was previously the case. As long as they follow the rules which include raising the flag between sunrise and sunset unless it is sufficiently illuminated at night citizens are allowed to fly the flag all year round.

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