Why our flag matters

Deccan Herald

5 days ago

Every country has a flag, but few flags have a story as powerful, as emotional, and as deeply symbolic as India's. The Indian national flag, also known as the Tiranga (which means "tricolour" in Hindi), is not just a piece of fabric fluttering in the wind. It is a symbol of sacrifice, unity, struggle, and freedom — woven together by history and the dreams of a nation.
Long before independence, India had no official national flag. During British rule, flags represented the British Empire, not the people of India. But as the freedom movement gained strength in the early 20th century, leaders began to imagine a flag that could represent the Indian people. One of the earliest versions was created in 1906, with three horizontal bands of green, yellow, and red. Later, other versions followed, reflecting different ideas and political movements.
The flag we know today began to take shape in 1921. A young man named Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and designer from Andhra Pradesh, proposed a two-colour flag — red and green — to represent the two major communities of India. Mahatma Gandhi supported the idea but suggested adding a white band to represent other communities and peace, and a spinning wheel or "charkha" in the centre to represent India's self-reliance.
This version became widely accepted among Indian nationalists, but it was still not official. When India gained independence from British rule on 15 August 1947, a final version of the flag was adopted. The spinning wheel was replaced with the Ashoka Chakra, a navy blue wheel with 24 spokes, taken from the Lion Capital of Ashoka, an ancient sculpture from 3rd century BCE.
The modern Indian flag consists of three horizontal stripes: saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. Each colour has a deep meaning. Saffron symbolises courage and sacrifice. White stands for peace and truth. Green represents faith, fertility, and the land's rich greenery. The Ashoka Chakra in the centre is a symbol of the eternal wheel of law and progress. Its 24 spokes represent 24 qualities such as patience, courage, kindness, and selflessness.
But the Indian flag is not just about design and colour. It is about the emotions it stirs in people's hearts. It reminds millions of Indians of the long, painful struggle for independence. It honours those who sacrificed their lives for the country. And it unites over a billion people, across languages, religions, and regions, under a common identity.
There are also very specific rules about how the Indian flag should be displayed. The Flag Code of India governs everything from the size of the flag to how and when it can be hoisted. For many years, only government buildings and institutions were allowed to fly the national flag. But in 2002, the rules changed, and now any Indian citizen can proudly hoist the flag, provided they follow the guidelines with respect and dignity.
The flag is also made in a special way. It must be made of khadi, a hand-spun and handwoven cloth promoted by Gandhi during the freedom movement. The production of the flag is strictly controlled, and only one organisation, the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha in Hubballi, is officially authorised to manufacture the Indian national flag.
The Indian flag has flown high in many historic moments. It was hoisted on 15 August 1947 as the country celebrated its first day of independence. It fluttered at the top of Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953. It soared into space with Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, in 1984. It stands tall in international sports arenas, embassies around the world, and on the uniforms of Indian soldiers.
But it's not just about big events. The flag is part of everyday life in India. On Republic Day and Independence Day, schools, homes, and public buildings are decorated with tricolours. Children sing the national anthem and proudly wear flag pins. The Tiranga is printed on kites, sweets, clothes, and even painted on faces — a celebration of identity, freedom, and pride.
For young Indians, the flag is a reminder of the past and a hope for the future. It tells the story of how people came together to build a nation.
Spinning wheel
The original design proposed by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 featured a charkha (spinning wheel) at the centre to symbolise self-reliance. It was later replaced by the Ashoka Chakra to represent progress and dharma.
Three colours aren't just about religion
Saffron stands for courage and sacrifice, white for truth and peace, and green for growth and fertility. The flag was deliberately designed to represent ideals, not religions.
Precise geometry
The flag's proportions are always 3:2 (length to height), and the Ashoka Chakra has 24 equally spaced spokes — representing 24 hours in a day and the timeless wheel of law.
Flag code
India has an official Flag Code that governs how the flag must be made, displayed, and disposed of — from public buildings to school parades.
A woman helped design the first version
Bhikaji Cama, a prominent freedom fighter, was the first to unfurl a version of the Indian flag in 1907. It looked different from today's flag and included symbols like the sun and crescent — a symbol of unity in diversity long before independence.