The Colors of Freedom: The Untold Story Behind India's National Flag

The National Flag of India, as we know it today, was officially adopted on July 22, 1947.

But behind this iconic symbol lies a deep history, woven with the struggles and triumphs of India’s fight for independence.

In 1906 another flag came into existence which was hoisted on August 7, 1906 at an anti-partition rally in Parsee Bagan Square in Kolkata. This tricolor is believed to have been designed by Sachindra Prasad Bose and Sukumar Mitra. It had three stripes of green, yellow and red from top to bottom. The top most green band had eight lotus flowers representing the eight provinces, the middle yellow stripe bore the words ‘Vande Mataram’ and the lowermost band had a crescent moon on the left and a sun on the right side.

In 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama raised a flag in Paris that closely resembled our national flag but with a few unique touches. This flag, later known as the Berlin Committee Flag, was also showcased at a socialist conference in Berlin. The flag featured three horizontal stripes: green at the top with eight Stars symbolizing the eight provinces, yellow in the middle with the words ‘Vande Mataram,’ and red at the bottom with a crescent moon on the left and a sun on the right.

In 1917, during the Home Rule Movement, Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak introduced a new flag symbolizing India's quest for self-governance within the British Empire. This flag became a powerful emblem of the fight for autonomous rule for Indians.

In 1921, at the Bezwada (now Vijayawada) Congress session, a young freedom fighter named Pingali Venkaiah presented a flag design to Mahatma Gandhi. The flag featured three stripes, symbolizing the unity of India’s diverse communities. At its center, a spinning wheel was placed, representing the nation's progress and self-reliance.

In 1931, a significant step was taken when a formal resolution was passed to adopt Pingali Venkayya's flag design, with a few modifications. The flag's colors were changed to saffron, white, and green. Saffron symbolized the shared spirituality of Hindu yogis and Muslim dervishes, while the white band in the middle represented harmony among all religious communities. This became India's first official flag, proudly designed by Pingali Venkayya, with the 'charkha' retained as a symbol of the Swadeshi movement.

In its present form, the flag was officially adopted during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, and it became the official flag of the Union of India on 15 August 1947. As India stood on the brink of independence, the iconic spinning wheel was replaced by the Dharma Chakra of Emperor Ashoka, symbolizing truth, life, and the eternal rule of dharma. This flag, now known as the Tiranga, became our national emblem.

The significance of the colors also evolved with this change. Saffron came to represent courage and selflessness, white stood for purity, peace, and truth, and green symbolized faith, fertility, and prosperity. The Ashoka Chakra at the center became a powerful symbol of the rule of dharma, anchoring the values that guide our nation. This is the story of how our present National Flag came into existence, embodying the spirit and ideals of a newly independent India.