FLAG :
Wheel in navy blue (indicates the Dharma Chakra, the wheel of
law in
the Sarnath Lion Capital) on a white (purity and truth) stripe, with a deep
saffron (courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation) stripe above, and
a green (faith and fertility) stripe below.
A FLAG symbolizing the Indian people's aspiration to nationhood was
hoisted in
Paris in the early l9OOs by Madame Bhikaiji Cama and her group of exiled
revolutionaries. Widely accepted as the first flag in the Indian freedom
movement- though some historians believe the first flag was actually
unfurled at the Parsi Bagan Square in Calcutta on August 7, 1906 - the
Paris
banner had a red band with a white lotus flower and seven stars to denote
the
Milky Way; a yellow band with Vande Mataram inscribed in deep blue
Devanagri
script; a green band with a sun on the left and a crescent-and-star
symbol on
the right, both in white.
Nine years later, during the Home Rule Movement, Dr Annie Besant and Lokmanya
Tilak presented yet another flag; this one had five, alternately red and
green
horizontal stripes, a Union Jack in the left top corner reflecting the
demand
of the day that India be given dominion status within the British Empire,
the
Milky Way in the centre, and a crescent-and-star in the right top corner.
The
rising tide of nationalism quickly made the flag unacceptable. A call for
new
leadership brought Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to the forefront, and it was
through Gandhi that India was to get her first tricolour.
In 1921, during the session of the All-India Congress Committee at
Bezwada
(now Vijayawada), a student from Masulipatnam's National College
presented
Mahatma Gandhi with a flag of red and green, the colours representing the
two
major Indian communities, the Hindus and the Muslims. Gandhi suggested
the
addition of a white stripe to symbolize the rest of India's communities,
and
a charkha (spinning wheel) to symbolize the masses of India.
The tricolour, officially adopted as the national emblem by the
Congress at its 1931 Karachi session presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel, held no communal undertones. The flag then unfurled had a band of
deep
saffron to symbolize courage and sacrifice, a band of white imprinted
with a
blue charkha for truth, and a band of dark green for faith and
chivalry. On July 22, 1947 three weeks before Indian Independence, the
Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolour as India's National
Flag,
but replaced the charkha with the Asoka Chakra, which
appears on the abacus (see top of this page) of the Lion Pillar at
Sarnath.
A symbol of India's ancient culture explained Prime Minister
Nehru in
moving the resolution on the National Flag before the Assembly.
Today, 48 years after Independence, the flag continues to stir profound
feelings of nationalism in most Indians. To guard this symbol of liberty
against desecration by the few, Parliament in 1950 included a section on
the
National Flag in The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use)
Act, forbidding its use in any trade mark or design unless permitted
by
the Central Government. Later in 1971 it passed the Prevention of
Insults
to National Honour Act, stipulating three years' imprisonment or
fine,
or both, for anyone who, in public view, mutilates, defaces, defiles,
disfigures, destroys, tramples on or otherwise brings the National Flag
into
contempt.
Even those who cherish the tricolour, though, may not always give it due
honour because they are unfamiliar with the specifications of the Flag
Code.
Not just a piece of bright material, but the symbol of a great nation,
the
tricolour must be displayed correctly, reverently, and according
to
very specific rules.
The dimensions of the National Flag should be in the ratio of 3 : 2
and the Asoka Chakra should have 24 spokes.
The National Flag may be flown daily only from important public
buildings
such as the Lok Sabha (The Parliament), the Rajya
Sabha
(The Assembly) and the Supreme Court, at border posts, and on the
official
residences of the President and Vice-President, governors and
lieutenant
governors.
The public may hoist the tricolour only on special days:
Republic
Day (January 26), National Week (April 6 to 13), observed in memory of
the
Jallianwala Bagh martyrs, Independence Day (August 15) and Mahatma
Gandhi's birth anniversary (October 2). The Flag may also be flown by
individuals on days declared for "national rejoicing" and in the
states on
days of special significance (on May 1 in Maharashtra for instance,
the
day the state was founded).
The privilege of flying the Flag on motor cars is generally reserved
for
selected dignitaries: the President and Vice-President, governors and
lieutenant governors, the Prime Minister and other ministers,
speakers,
chief justices and heads of Indian missions abroad.
The Flag should be hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sunset. It may
be
displayed after sunset only on very special occasions. It should be
raised
briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously.
No other flag or bunting should fly above the tricolour and none
beside
it, except for the UN flag and other national flags which may be hung
to
the left.
No flowers, garlands or emblems may be placed on the flagmast, nor
any
other flag flown on the same pole.
The Flag should not be dipped in salute to any person, no matter how
exalted; or to any edifice or object, no matter how sacred.
The Flag should not be allowed to touch the ground or trail in water.
It
should flutter freely.
The tricolour may not be used or displayed as a festoon, rosette,
bunting,
curtain, tablecloth or drapery and pieces of coloured cloth should
not be
arranged so as to look like it. It should not be used as part of a
costume
or uniform, embroidered on cushions and handkerchiefs, or printed on
napkins and boxes. Lettering of any kind is not allowed on the Flag.
Its
use in advertisements is prohibited except when allowed by the
government.
When the Flag is worn out or faded, it should not be displayed. Once
torn,
it should not be mended and used again. A damaged Flag must be burnt
or
otherwise destroyed in a manner befitting its dignity.
On the death of a notable, whether Indian or foreign, the Flag is
flown at
half-mast only on buildings where it is permitted to be flown daily;
on
days when the Flag is being flown by all the people, it can be
half-masted
only on the building where the body of the deceased is lying.
Like a child, our Flag was born out of love -love of country - and
has
become dearer for the many and great sacrifices made for it.
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