National Flag Of India: Tiranga / Tricolor

• The first Indian National Flag was hoisted on 07th August, 1906 in Calcutta at Parsee Bagan Square.
• The first person to hoist the national flag in foreign country was Madam Bhikaji Cama on 22nd August, 1907 in Germany.
• Pingali Venkayya, a farmer and a freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh designed the national flag of India.
• A Postage stamp was issued in 2009 to commemorate the great contribution of Pingali Venkayya.
• Indian national flag was also hoisted on Mt. Everest along with the national flags of United Kingdom and Nepal on 29th May 1953.
• Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian who took the tricolor in the outer space.
• Largest Human Flag formation of Indian Flag on 07th December 2014 at YMCA Ground, Chennai by around 50000 people was declared as the Guinness World Record for Largest Human National Flag.
• India became the fourth country to hoist Indian National Flag on moon on 14th November 2008 through its unmanned lunar orbiter Chandrayaan-1.
• Flags of the countries which have very close similarities with the Indian National Flag are Niger, Ireland and Ivory Coast.
• An Indian National Flag of 9600 square feet was unfurled in March, 2018 at Belgavi, Karnataka on 110 meter tall flagpole which is considered as the India’s tallest national flag.

History:

A flag become the symbol of the country so any independent country needs a flag to represent a unique symbol of the particular nation. The National Flag of India was first adopted in its present form on 22nd of July in 1947 in the meeting of Constituent Assembly, few days before the independence of country from British rule on 15th of August in 1947. It was designed by the Pingali Venkayya using tri colours, Ashok Chakra and Khadi clothe.

The National flag of India is designed in horizontal shape in which all the tricolors are used in equal proportions. The ratio of flag width to its length is 2:3. The middle white band contains a navy blue wheel representing Ashok chakra with 24 spokes.

Before the final adoption of the national flag, it goes through various amazing changes since its first inception. It was started discovering and searching for the unique national flag to recognize the country during the national struggle for freedom from the British rule.

Evolution of Indian Flag:

First Indian national flag in 1906

It is said that, the national flag was first time hoisted on 7th of August in 1906 in the Green Park (also called as Parsee Bagan Square) in the Calcutta (current Kolkata). It was a simply designed flag using three horizontal strips of tri colours (red, yellow and green). The uppermost green colour strip contains eight (8) white lotus flowers. The middle yellow colour strip is written in the center with “Vande Matram” in Hindi. And the lowermost red colour strip contains a crescent (left side corner) and a Sun (right side corner).

Second Indian national flag in 1907

According to the history, it is said that Indian national flag was hoisted second time in the Paris by the Madame Cama with her banished revolutionary band in 1907. Later that flag was exhibited in the social conference of Berlin. The second flag was little different from the first one. The uppermost orange colour strip contains one lotus flower and seven stars (identifying the Saptarishis). The middle yellow colour strip is written with “Vande Matram” in Hindi in the center. And the lowermost green colour strip contains a Sun in the left corner and a white crescent and star in the right corner.

Third Indian national flag in 1917

It was hoisted third time by the Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak in 1917 during the Home rule movement. It was designed using five red and four green horizontal strips (equally divided) in alternate manners. It also contains seven stars identifying the Saptarishis and a Union Jack in the left-hand top corner together with a white crescent and star in right top corner.

Indian national flag in 1921

In 1921, all India Congress Committee in Bezwada (Vijayawada) designed a flag (having two strips of red and green colour representing the Hindus and Muslim community) and took that to Mahatma Gandhi Ji. Where they suggested adding a white strip (in the middle to represent other communities) and a blue wheel (Charkha) to represent the progress of Nation.

Indian national flag in 1931

Finally, in 1931 a resolution was passed to adopt a tricolor flag (suggested by Gandhiji) in India. This flag contains the upper saffron, middle white and lower green colour strips. The middle white strip contains a spinning wheel in the center.

Indian flag present

However, it was adopted completely on 22nd of July in 1947 in the meeting of Constituent Assembly. They decided to adopt a national flag with same tri-colours and significance with only a little change, the spinning wheel was altered to the Dharma Charkha of the King Asoka as an emblem on the national flag. This flag finally became the national flag of the Independent India.

What Is National Flag Code Of India

Indian flag is a symbol of national pride which represents hopes and aspirations of Indian people. Since the independence of India till date brave soldiers of the Indian armed forces has saved the Tiranga from enemies and maintained its full glory.

The national flag code of India is a predefined set of laws which governs the usage of Indian Flag by the people or others from different country. Bureau of Indian Standards is authorized to govern the manufacturing, designing and correct usage of national flag by following set standards (created in 1968 and updated in 2008).

The national flag code on India was written in 2002 year and merged with acts like: “Provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (No.12 of 1950), the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (No. 69 of 1971). Finally, the flag code came into effect on 26th of January in 2002 as a “Flag Code of India, 2002”. It has three parts such as:

• First part contains general description of the national flag.
• Second part instructs use of national flag by public, members of private organizations and educational institutions.
• And third part instructs use of national flag by the Central and State Governments including their organizations and agencies.

All the rules, laws and authority to use national flag have been officially described under the heading of Flag Code of India as follows: “The colour of the top panel shall be India saffron (Kesari) and that of the bottom panel shall be India green. The middle panel shall be white, bearing at its centre the design of Ashoka Chakra in navy blue colour with 24 equally spaced spokes.”

According to the, making national flag by someone using clothes other than the Khadi or hand-spun cloth is punishable with imprisonment for three years including fine. It is also restricted that the raw materials of khadi should be cotton, silk and wool. Flag is made up of using two kinds of khadi clothe (khadi-bunting to prepare body of flag and khadi-duck means beige-coloured cloth to prepare ends of flag holding the pole). It is also restricted that per square centimetre of clothe must contain only 150 threads, four threads per stitch and weight of one square foot clothe should be only 205 gm (means 7.2 oz).

What Are Rules & Regulations Of National Flag Code Of India

According to the national flag code of India based on 26th of January, 2002 legislation, some rules and regulations must be followed to fly the flag:

• It allows the flag hoisting in the educational institutions (such as schools, colleges, universities, sports camps, scout, etc.) as an inspiration to the students to respect their national Flag. Together with the flag hoisting, a pledge of commitment should be followed in the educational institutions.
• A national flag can be hoisted by the public or private organizations on any national occasion by following the dignity and honour of flag. According to the section 2 of new code, private citizens are also allowed to fly flag in their premises.
• It is restricted that flag should not be used by anyone for any communal or personal gains like using it as a clothe. It is only flown from sunrise to sunset in any weather.
• It is prohibited to touch it intentionally to the ground, floor, trail in water, etc.
• It should not be used to cover the top, back or sides of any vehicles like car, aircraft, trains, boats, etc in any condition.
• If one is using another flag together with the national flag, he / she must become aware of that no flag other than the national flag should be at higher level. Nothing can be placed over it or it cannot be used for decoration purpose.

Famous Saying Of Mahatma Gandhi About National Flag

• A flag is a necessity for all nations. Millions have died for it. It is no doubt a kind of idolatry which would be a sin to destroy. For, a flag represents an Ideal The unfurling of the Union Jack evokes in the English breast sentiments whose strength it is difficult to measure. The Stars and Stripes mean a world to the Americans. The Star and the Crescent will call forth the best bravery in Islam.
• It will be necessary for us Indians Muslims, Christians Jews, Parsis, and all others to whom India is their home-to recognize a common flag to live and to die for. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Indian Flag Quotes

• I was in high school when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled India’s flag in New Delhi. ~ A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
• To survive in peace and harmony, united and strong, we must have one people, one nation, one flag. ~ Pauline Hanson
• I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it. ~ John Thune
• Our flag is not just one of many political points of view. Rather, the flag is a symbol of our national unity. ~ Adrian Cronauer
• Our flag honors those who have fought to protect it, and is a reminder of the sacrifice of our nation’s founders and heroes. As the ultimate icon of America’s storied history, the Stars and Stripes represents the very best of this nation. ~ Joe Barton
• On what rests the hope of the republic? One country, one language, one flag! ~ Alexander Henry
• There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag. ~ Jesse Ventura
• There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people. ~ Howard Zinn
• Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. ~ James Bryce
• We give our Heads! and our Hearts! to Our Country! One Country! One Language! One Flag! ~ Colonel George T. Balch
• It is the flag just as much of the man who was naturalized yesterday as of the men whose people have been here many generations. ~ Henry Cabot Lodge
• The union of hearts the union of hands And the flag of our Union forever. ~ George Pope Morris
• Let it be borne on the flag under which we rally in every exigency, that we have one country, one constitution, one destiny. ~ Daniel Webster
• We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. ~ Nathan Bedford Forrest