With the Independence Day celebrations in full swing, we feel it is the best time to share some interesting facts about the Indian National Flag. We all are aware of generic information about our flag, like the three colours used in there, their symbolic representation, the number of spokes in the Ashoka chakra placed at the centre etc. but there are some things that a lay man (in fact 90% of the Indian population) might not be aware of. These facts make for an interesting read.
1. Evolution of our flag
Tiranga or our National flag was adopted in its current state in 1947. But it went through many design changes and patterns since its first evolution in 1906 when it was first hoisted in Parsee Bagan Square (Green park) in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). It had Vande matram written in the central yellow coloured panel with green and red panel on the top and bottom respectively.
It was subsequently hoisted in Paris by Madame Cama in 1907 followed by 1917 when it was hoisted by Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak during the Home Rule Movement.
In 1921, during the session of the All India Congress Committee, Pingali Venkayya designed a flag in two colours, namely red and green to symbolise Hindu and Muslim community respectively, and showed it to Gandhiji. Gandhiji recommended a white strip to be inserted in between the two strips to symbolise the remaining communities. He also suggested placing a spinning wheel (chakra) in the middle to symbolise the progress of the nation.
Later in 1931, a resolution was passed adopting a tricolour flag as our national flag. It was as per the design suggested by Mahatma Gandhi with saffron, white and green stripes and a charkha (spinning wheel) in the middle. It was stated that it bore no communal significance however.
Finally, on July 22, 1947, it was adopted as a free India National Flag by the Constituent Assembly. Only the spinning wheel was replaced by the Dharma Chakra of Emperor Ashoka. It was on this day that the tricolour of Congress party became the national flag of Independent India.
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