NATIONAL FLAG DAY OF INDIA

Source: IndianExpress

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Context

India's National Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the Indian national flag on July 22, 1947, by the Constituent Assembly, a few days before the country attained Independence from the British on August 15, 1947.

Details

• The national flag of India, colloquially called Tiraṅgā(the tricolour), is a horizontal rectangular tricolour flag.
• Became Official: 15 August 1947, the day of India's independence.

Design Evolution

• Basis: The flag is based on the Swaraj flag, a flag of the Indian National Congress adopted by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Modification: Original design by Pingali Venkayya included a charkha (spinning wheel), which was replaced with the Ashoka Chakra in 1947 by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Manufacturing and Usage

• Material: Initially mandated to be made of khadi, a hand-spun cloth promoted by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Manufacturing Rights: Held by the Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission, allocated to regional groups.
• Units Licensed: As of 2023, there are 4 units in India licensed to manufacture the flag.
• Specifications: Laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Historical Context

Pre-Independence Movement

• British India Ensigns: Early flags included the Union Jack and the Star of India, based on British colonial designs.
• Early Proposals: Various proposals included symbols like Ganesha, Kali, and the cow, but these were Hindu-centric.
• Tricolour Development: Inspired by European tricolours symbolizing independence and republicanism (e.g., Netherlands, France).

Key Flag Designs

• Vande Mataram Flag (1906): The first unofficial flag was hoisted on August 7, 1906, in Kolkata. This flag featured three horizontal stripes of green, yellow, and red. The green stripe had eight white lotuses, the yellow stripe had "Vande Mataram" inscribed, and the red stripe included a sun and a crescent moon.
• Madam Bhikaji Cama's Flag (1907): Modified version used at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart. The second version was hoisted in Paris by Madame Cama and her group of exiled revolutionaries. It was similar to the 1906 flag but had a lotus and seven stars symbolizing the Saptarishi constellation.
• Sister Nivedita's Flag (1906): Featured a thunderbolt and 108 oil lamps.
• Home Rule Movement Flag (1916): Hoisted by Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak during the Home Rule Movement, this flag had five red and four green horizontal stripes with a Union Jack in the top left corner and a white crescent and star in the top right corner.
• Gandhi's Flag (1921): During the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bezwada (now Vijayawada), a new flag was proposed with red and green bands representing Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi suggested adding a white band for other communities and a spinning wheel symbolizing progress.
• 1931 Flag: The tricolor flag was adopted with saffron, white, and green stripes. The spinning wheel was replaced by the Ashoka Chakra in 1947 to represent the eternal wheel of law and justice.

Flag Satyagraha (1923)

• Event: Started in Nagpur commemorating the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Outcome: Led to national attention and greater acceptance of the flag among different communities.

Final Adoption (1947)

• Committee Formation: Constituent Assembly set up a committee to select the national flag.
• Recommendation: Adopted the Indian National Congress flag with modifications (Ashoka Chakra replacing the spinning wheel).
• Approval: Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and approved on 22 July 1947.
• Symbolism of Chakra: Represented dharma and law, chosen for symmetry and non-religious connotations.

Final Flag Design

• Description: Horizontal tricolour of deep saffron, white, and dark green, with the Ashoka Chakra in the center of the white band.
• Various sizes are specified, from 6300 × 4200 mm to 150 × 100 mm, with proportionate sizes for the Ashoka Chakra.
• Usage: Served as the national flag of the Dominion of India from 15 August 1947 to 26 January 1950, and as the flag of the Republic of India since then.
• The Indian flag has a 3:2 aspect ratio with equal horizontal bands of saffron, white, and green, and the Ashoka Chakra in the center.
• The national flag of India consists of three horizontal stripes of equal proportions:

• • Saffron (top): Represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation.
  • White (middle): Symbolizes truth, peace, and purity.
  • Green (bottom): Denotes faith, fertility, and the land's richness.
  • The Ashoka Chakra in the center is navy blue with 24 spokes, symbolizing the eternal wheel of law (dharma) and movement towards progress. It is inspired by the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.

Interesting Facts

• The right to hoist the national flag is considered a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.
• The Indian flag was first raised on Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.
• Bhikaji Cama was the first Indian to raise the flag on foreign soil in 1907.

Other official flags of India

Army Flags

• Flag of the Indian Army (1876–1947): Featured the Union Jack with the emblem of the Star of India.
• Flag of the Indian Army (1947–present): The flag has evolved to include the Indian Army insignia on a red background.

Navy Flags

• Flag of the Royal Indian Marine (1879–1924): A blue ensign with the Union Jack and the Star of India.
• Flag of the Royal Indian Marine and the Royal Indian Navy (1924–1947): Similar to the previous flag but with the Royal Indian Navy insignia.
• Flag of the Indian Navy (1947–2001): Initially retained the British ensign design but with the Indian tricolor.
• Flag of the Indian Navy (2001–2004); Changed to a white ensign with a blue cross and the Indian national flag in the canton.
• Flag of the Indian Navy (2004–2014): Incorporated the Ashoka Chakra on the blue cross.
• Flag of the Indian Navy (2014–2022): Returned to the blue cross design with minor modifications.
• Flag of the Indian Navy (2022–present): Simplified design focusing on the blue cross and the national flag.

Air Force Flags

• Flag of the Royal Indian Air Force (1945–1947): Similar to the RAF ensign but with the Star of India.
• Flag of the Indian Air Force (1950–2023): A sky blue flag with the Indian Air Force roundel.
• Flag of the Indian Air Force (2023–present): Updated design with the current Air Force insignia.

Civil and State Ensigns

• Civil Ensign of India (1880–1947): A red ensign with the Union Jack and the Star of India.
• State Ensign of India (1880–1947): Similar to the civil ensign but used for state purposes.
• Civil Ensign of India (1947–present): Red ensign with the Indian national flag.
• State Ensign of India (1947–present): Blue ensign with the national flag.

Flag Code and Laws

• Governance: Usage governed by the Flag Code of India and laws related to national emblems.
• Private Use: Initially restricted to national days. In 2002, the Supreme Court allowed private citizens to use the flag, leading to amendments in the flag code to permit limited private usage.
• Amendments: In 2005, further amendments allowed additional uses, including certain forms of clothing adaptations.
• Protocol: The flag code governs the flying protocol and its use with other flags.

Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, is an act enacted by the Indian Parliament to prevent any insult or dishonor to the national symbols of India, including the National Flag, the Constitution, and the National Anthem. The act was enacted on December 23, 1971.

Key Provisions

• Insults to the National Flag and Constitution:
  • Any public act of burning, mutilating, defacing, defiling, disfiguring, destroying, or trampling upon the Indian National Flag or the Constitution is punishable by imprisonment up to three years, a fine, or both.
  • Specific actions considered disrespectful include using the flag as a drapery (except for state or military funerals), as a covering for a statue or a speaker's desk, in any clothing below the waist, or allowing it to touch the ground intentionally.
• Prevention of Singing of National Anthem: Any intentional prevention or disturbance of the singing of the National Anthem is punishable by imprisonment up to three years, a fine, or both.
• Enhanced Penalty for Repeat Offenders: A person convicted of any offense under this act, if convicted again, faces a minimum imprisonment of one year.
• Exemptions: Criticism aimed at lawful amendments to the Constitution or alterations to the National Flag does not constitute an offense under this act.
• Historical Context: Initially, the legislation was influenced by movements in Tamil Nadu in the 1950s against the caste system and the imposition of Hindi. The national legislation was formalized in 1971, with significant amendments in 2003 and 2005 to include modern forms of disrespect and misuse of the national symbols.
• Enforcement: The act is enforced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and applies throughout the country.

National Flag Code of India

• The Flag Code of India governs the usage, display, and hoisting of the Indian National Flag.
• The code came into effect on January 26, 2002, and consolidates all laws, conventions, practices, and instructions related to the display of the National Flag.

Key Provisions

• General Guidelines:
  • The National Flag should be made of hand-spun and hand-woven wool, cotton, silk, or khadi.
  • It should not be used for commercial purposes, or as a drapery for anything except in state funerals or military parades.
  • The flag should not touch the ground, floor, or trail in water.
• Display Rules:
  • The flag should always be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly.
  • When displayed with other flags, it should occupy the position of honour.
  • It should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset unless illuminated.
  • It should not be used as a costume or uniform accessory below the waist.
• Correct Way to Hoist:
  • The saffron (top) band must always be at the top when hoisted.
  • It should not be dipped to salute any person or thing.
• Public and Private Display: Individuals, private organizations, and educational institutions are permitted to hoist the National Flag on their premises.
• Amendments and Updates: The Flag Code was amended in December 2021 to permit the manufacturing and use of polyester and other machine-made flags, allowing a broader array of materials to be used in making the National Flag.

Armed Forces Flag Day in India

• Armed Forces Flag Day is observed annually on December 7th.
• Armed Forces Flag Day was first observed on December 7, 1949.
• The initiative began to support the rehabilitation of war veterans and families affected by the conflicts post-Independence, such as the Indo-Pak War of 1947-48.
• The primary aim was to collect funds through the distribution of flags and other activities​.

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Sources:

IndianExpress