2016-07-22 Fri

The day of 22nd July is marked as the most important day for India and its identity. On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted “Tiranga” as official flag of the Free India.

Every free nation has a flag of its own as it is a symbol of its freedom as well as its identity. Adopted a few days before India's independence from the British- the “Tiranga” – what we see and pay respect to – has a wonderful story to tell. The word “Tiranga” which literary means “tricolour” has undergone various changes since its first inception.

Recognised during our national struggle for freedom, our national flag sailed through many oceans to arrive at what it is today. In one way it reflects the political developments in the nation and on the other hand it also conveys the historical milestones of the country.

The first national flag in India is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906. The flag composed of three horizontal strips of Green, yellow and red. The red strip had two symbols, one of sun and the other of a star and a crescent. The yellow strip had 'Vande Mataram' written on it in Devnagiri script.

Then came the Madam Bhikaji Rustom Cama's flag. This was very similar to the first flag except that the top strip had only one lotus but seven stars denoting the Saptarishi. This flag was also exhibited at a socialist conference in Berlin.

The third flag went up in 1917 when our political struggle had taken a definite turn. Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home rule movement. This flag had five red and four green horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration on them. In the left-hand top corner the Union Jack is seen along with a white crescent and star in one corner.

In 1921 at Vijaywada, an Andhra youth, Pingali Venkayya prepared a flag which was made up of two colours-red and green-representing the two major communities i.e. Hindus and Muslims. Mahatma Gandhi made further changes by adding a white strip to represent the remaining communities of India and the spinning wheel to symbolise progress of the Nation.

The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag. A resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag as our national flag. This flag bore saffron, white and green stripes with Mahatma Gandhi's spinning wheel at the centre.

Finally on July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted it as Flag of the Free Nation of India. The colours and their significance remained the same. Only the Dharma Charkha of Emperor Asoka was adopted in place of the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. Thus, this tricolour flag eventually became the tricolour flag of Independent India.

The colours of “Tiranga” symbolize certain significance. Saffron colour indicates the strength and courage of the country, the white indicates peace and truth while the green shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land. Furthermore, This Dharma Chakra depicted as the "wheel of the law" intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.

The “Tiranga” was proudly hoisted on 15th August 1947 as the symbol of freedom and the identity of this newly born nation. It is also featured on the first stamp of Independent India . Besides, it also appears on 22 cent and 39 cent stamps of United Nation special flag series issues.

The Indian National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is the symbol of our national pride.