Republic Day 2022: 6 interesting things to know about the Indian flag
The 72nd Republic Day of India (January 26, 2022) is just around the corner and the nation is once again gearing up to commemorate one of the most significant milestones in its independent history, i.e., the day on which the Constitution of India came into being. Yes, the Indian constitution was effective from 26th January 1950, three years after the country gained its freedom from the oppressive British rule.
Every year, on the auspicious event of Republic Day, notable dignitaries from the Government of India come together to celebrate the day which always commences with the unfurling of the Indian tricoloured flag, also called the ‘tiranga.’ Just like the flag of every other country, the Indian national flag too is the pride of every citizen and is greatly honoured for what it represents.
Symbolism of the Indian national flag
The Indian national flag is tricoloured with saffron at the top, white at the centre and green at the bottom. Right in the middle, the white band has the Ashok Chakra, a navy-blue wheel, symbolizing virtue, truth and dharma (Laws of Dharma or Righteousness). Its design resembles the abacas of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka located at the Ashoka Pillar in Varanasi. The saffron colour represents the strength, sacrifice and courage of the nation, while the white represents peace, purity and honour and finally the green symbolizes fertility, growth and properity of India as a nation.
Trivia about the Indian national flag
From the design history of the Indian flag to understanding the key points in the flag code, here is our round-up of interesting facts about the national flag of India.
Gandhiji’s disciple is the designer of the Indian flag: The Indian national flag was designed by freedom fighter and Mahatma Gandhi’s disciple Pingali Venkayya of Andhra Pradesh and was based on the Swaraj flag of the Indian National Congress. It was adopted on 22nd July 1947 during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly ahead of India’s independence. However, it became the official flag of India on 15th August 1947.
The first national flag was unofficially hoisted years before India’s independence: Yes, you heard us right and the date was 7th August 1906. This event took place at the Parsi Bagan Square in Calcutta. However, its design was different from the flag as we know today and consisted of three horizontal stripes of green, yellow and red.
The fabric of the Indian flag is khadi: According to the law laid down in the Indian Constitution, the national flag should always be made out of khadi, the special hand-made cloth (of either cotton or khadi) that was made popular by Mahatma Gandhi during the Swadeshi movement. In fact, at present, the only licensed and legally authorized manufacturer and supplier of the original Indian national flag is Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS).
An Indian hoisted the national flag on the foreign soil in 1907: Bhikaji Rustom Cama was the first Indian who hoisted the unofficial Indian national flag on the foreign soil at Stuttgart in Germany on 22nd August 1907. His initiative was an eye-opener for the rest of world to come forward and show solidarity for Indians and India, their human rights, equality and struggle for independence from the British rule.
The national flag can be hoisted only during the day time: Till 2002, the citizens of India were prohibited from hoisting the Indian national flag except on Independence and Republic days. However, the Supreme Court of India amended the flag code in 2002 giving the citizens the right to hoist the national flag at a given time, place and event as long as they adhere to the flag code. The flag code says that the national flag should only be hoisted during the day time and no other flag or similar symbolic representation should stand above it. It also states that the Indian flag should never touch the ground or raised upside down.
The Indian national flag should be on the right hand side of the car: When a foreign diplomat is travelling in a car arranged by the Indian government, it is mandatory that the Indian flag is flown on the right-hand side of the car, while the respective foreign country’s flag should be flown on the left-hand side.