Turmeric Man of Himachal Pradesh

Do you know why our national flag flies high? Because it flutters in the last breath of every soldier who died protecting our country.

About National Flag Day

National Flag Day in India is celebrated annually on July 22 to commemorate the historic day when the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the present-day tricolour flag as the official National Flag. This significant day marks the official selection of the tricolour flag, featuring deep saffron, white, and Indian green stripes, with the Ashoka Chakra in the centre. The occasion also serves as a platform to appreciate and raise public awareness about the flag’s role in symbolising India’s independence, unity, and rich heritage.

India's National Flag: From Proposal to Adoption

On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly convened in the Constituent Hall in New Delhi at 10 o'clock, with Dr. Rajendra Prasad presiding. The Assembly had been meeting since December 9, 1946, covering a wide range of topics.

Dr. Prasad announced that the first agenda item was a motion by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru regarding the National Flag. India’s first Prime Minister then proposed the following resolution: "Resolved that the National Flag of India shall be a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (Kesari), white, and dark green in equal proportion. In the centre of the white band, there shall be a Wheel in navy blue representing the Charkha. The design of the Wheel shall be that of the Wheel (Chakra) appearing on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.

"The diameter of the Wheel shall approximate the width of the white band. The ratio of the width to the length of the Flag shall ordinarily be 2:3."

At the end of the day, the record notes, "The motion was adopted, with the entire Assembly standing."

Evolution of India's National Flag Day

The Evolution and Journey of India's Tricolour National Flag

India's National Flag has undergone several transformations since its inception, reflecting the country's political developments. Here are the historical milestones in the evolution of the National Flag:

1.    Early Beginnings (1904-1906) The first Indian flag, created between 1904 and 1906, was made by Sister Nivedita, an Irish disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Known as Sister Nivedita's flag, it featured red and yellow colors symbolizing the freedom struggle and victory, respectively. The flag bore the Bengali words "Bonde Matoram" along with a 'Vajra' (Indra's weapon) and a white lotus, representing strength and purity.

2.    Tricolour Flag of 1906 Another flag emerged in 1906, featuring three horizontal stripes of blue, yellow, and red. The blue stripe had eight stars of varying shapes, the red stripe depicted the sun and a crescent moon with a star, and the yellow stripe had "Vande Mataram" written in Devanagari script.

3.    The Calcutta Flag (1906) On August 7, 1906, the first unofficial national flag was hoisted at Parsee Bagan Square (now Green Park) in Calcutta. Known as the 'Calcutta Flag' or 'Lotus Flag,' it had horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and green. The flag included symbols of the sun, a crescent moon, and eight half-open lotuses, with "Vande Mataram" written in the center. Designed by Sachindra Prasad Bose and Sukumar Mitra, it was hoisted by Surendranath Banerjee to protest the partition of Bengal.

4.    Madam Cama's Flag (1907) On August 22, 1907, Madam Cama unfurled a flag in Stuttgart, Germany, designed with the help of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Shyamji Krishna Varma. Known as the "Berlin Committee flag," it was the first Indian flag hoisted on foreign soil. It featured three stripes: green, golden saffron, and red.

5.    Pingali Venkayya's Design (1916) In 1916, Pingali Venkayya designed a flag incorporating Mahatma Gandhi's suggestion of a charkha (spinning wheel) symbolizing India's economic regeneration. Made from khadi with red and green colors, the flag did not receive Gandhi's approval as it did not represent all communities in India.

6.    Home Rule League Flag (1917) The Home Rule League, formed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, adopted a flag in 1917. It included the Union Jack at the top left, with five red and four blue stripes, and seven stars representing the Saptarishi constellation. A crescent moon and star adorned the top fly end, but the flag did not gain widespread popularity.

7.    Bezwada Flag (1921) During the All India Congress Committee session in 1921 at Bezwada (now Vijayawada), an Andhra youth presented a flag to Gandhiji. It had red and green stripes representing Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi suggested adding a white stripe for other communities and a spinning wheel to symbolize progress. This flag was unofficially adopted in 1921.

8.    Tricolour Flag of 1931 In 1931, a resolution was passed to adopt a tricolour flag as the national flag. It featured saffron, white, and green stripes with a spinning wheel in the center, signifying no communal associations.

9.    Adoption as the National Flag (1947) On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolour flag as the National Flag of Free India. Post-independence, the colors and significance remained the same, but the spinning wheel was replaced with Emperor Ashoka's Dharma Chakra, transforming the Congress Party's flag into the national flag of independent India.

National Flag of India

The national flag of India, known as the "Tiranga" or "Tricolor," symbolizes the country's independence, sovereignty, and unity. It was adopted on July 22, 1947, shortly before India gained independence from British rule. The design elements of the National Flag and their symbolism are as follows:

Design Elements and Symbolism

Element	Symbolism
Deep Saffron at the Top (Kesari)	Represents courage, sacrifice, and strength.
White in the Middle (Shwet)	Signifies peace, truth, and purity.
Green at the Bottom (Harit)	Stands for fertility, growth, and auspiciousness of the Indian land.
Ashok Chakra at the Center	Represents the eternal wheel of law (Dharma Chakra). The 24 spokes symbolize the 24 hours of the day, indicating the continuous progress of the nation.

Objectives

Indian Flag Day, celebrated on July 22, holds significant objectives aimed at fostering national pride and unity. The key objectives are:

1.    Commemorate the Adoption of the National Flag: Mark the historic day when the Constituent Assembly adopted the National Flag of India in 1947.

2.    Promote National Unity and Patriotism: Encourage citizens to express their love and respect for the country, reinforcing a sense of unity and patriotism.

3.    Educate Citizens About the Flag's Significance: Raise awareness about the symbolism and meaning behind the colours and elements of the National Flag.

4.    Honor the Freedom Fighters: Remember and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters who contributed to India's independence.

5.    Instill Respect for the Flag: Promote the proper use and display of the National Flag, ensuring it is treated with the dignity and respect it deserves.

6.    Encourage Civic Responsibility: Inspire citizens to contribute to the nation's progress and uphold the values symbolized by the National Flag.

7.    Celebrate Cultural Diversity: Highlight the significance of the flag in representing India's rich cultural heritage and diversity.

8.    Strengthen National Identity: Reinforce the importance of the National Flag as a key element of India's national identity and pride.

Significance of Flag Day

Indian Flag Day, observed on July 22, holds profound significance as it commemorates the adoption of the National Flag of India. The importance of this day in 2024 is highlighted by several key aspects:

1.    Historical Commemoration: Marks the anniversary of the Constituent Assembly's adoption of the National Flag in 1947, just before India’s independence. This historic decision laid the foundation for the national symbol that represents India’s sovereignty and unity.

2.    National Pride: Reinforces national pride and unity by celebrating the symbolism embodied in the National Flag, which reflects the country's values of courage, peace, and prosperity.

3.    Educational Opportunity: Provides a platform to educate citizens about the significance of the National Flag’s design elements and their historical context. This helps in fostering a deeper appreciation of the flag's role in Indian identity.

4.    Patriotic Celebration: Serves as a day to celebrate patriotism and honor the sacrifices made by freedom fighters. It reminds citizens of the collective struggle for independence and the values the flag represents.

5.    Promotion of Respect: Emphasizes the importance of respecting the National Flag and following proper protocols for its display. This helps in maintaining the dignity and sanctity of the national symbol.

6.    Civic Engagement: Encourages citizens to engage in activities that reflect the values represented by the National Flag, promoting civic responsibility and national service.

7.    Cultural Reflection: Highlights the diversity and unity of India by celebrating the flag’s representation of various cultural and regional identities within the country.

8.    Strengthening National Identity: Reinforces the significance of the National Flag as a symbol of national identity and pride, contributing to a cohesive sense of belonging among citizens.

Flag Code of India, 2002

On January 26, 2002, the Indian Flag Code was revised, allowing citizens to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices, and factories on any day, not just on national holidays as previously required. This change enables Indians to proudly display the national flag at any time, provided they adhere strictly to the provisions of the Flag Code to maintain its dignity.

The Flag Code of India, 2002 is divided into three parts:

• Part I: General description of the National Flag.
• Part II: Guidelines for the display of the National Flag by members of the public, private organizations, and educational institutions.
• Part III: Regulations for the display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their agencies.

Rules and Regulations

The Do's:

• Educational Institutions: The National Flag may be hoisted in schools, colleges, sports camps, and scout camps to inspire respect. Schools are encouraged to include an oath of allegiance during flag hoisting.
• Public and Private Display: Members of the public, private organizations, and educational institutions may hoist or display the National Flag on all days and occasions, whether ceremonial or otherwise, as long as it is consistent with the dignity and honor of the Flag.
• Citizen Rights: Section 2 of the Code affirms the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises.

The Don'ts:

• Inappropriate Uses: The flag cannot be used for communal gains, as drapery, or as clothing. It should be flown from sunrise to sunset, regardless of the weather.
• Handling Restrictions: The flag must not touch the ground, floor, or trail in water. It should not be draped over vehicles, trains, boats, or aircraft.
• Placement Rules: No other flag or bunting should be placed higher than the National Flag. Additionally, no objects, including flowers, garlands, or emblems, should be placed on or above the flag. The tricolor should not be used as a festoon, rosette, or bunting.

Today we come together, be the cause for unity, make it a beautiful day, fight against corruption and hoist the Tricolour of our nation high in the air.

FAQs

Q. 1 When is National Flag Day celebrated?

National Flag Day is celebrated annually on July 22nd in India.

Q. 2 Why is National Flag Day celebrated?

It commemorates the adoption of the Indian tricolour as the official national flag by the Constituent Assembly in 1947.

Q. 3 What is the significance of the Indian flag?

The Indian flag, or Tiranga, represents India's independence, unity, and diversity. Its colours and the Ashoka Chakra carry deep symbolic meaning.

Q.4 When was the Indian flag first hoisted?

The first Indian flag is believed to have been hoisted in 1906 in Calcutta. However, the flag we know today was officially adopted on July 22, 1947.