THE NATIONAL FLAG OF INDIA

The National Flag is our pride and we must show high loyalty to our beloved and respected National Flag.

History and Evolution of National Flag

a)???The first flag was designed by Sister Nivedita, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda in 1904 with red and yellow color with a Vajra at the center along with “Vande Matram” written on either side

b)???In 1906, the first time the National was hoisted and the flag was with three strips of color

c)???In the second Socialist conference at Berlin, a flag was hoisted with three color strips designed in 1907 by Madam Bikhaji Cama, Veer Savarkar, and Shyamji Krishna

d)???In 1917 Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mrs. Annie Besant introduced another design of the flag

e)???In 1917 Gandhiji met Venkayya Pingle, who showed a design of a flag with two colors Red and Green expressing the existence of two major religions in India. Gandhiji told him to introduce a white strip to represent the other religion.

f)????In 1931 a modified design was done with three color strips of Saffron, White, and Green with a Chakra (the spinning wheel) at the center.

g)???Incidentally, Netaji Subhas Ch Bose also used the same flag with a modification of having a jumping tiger in place of chakra for the famous Indian National Army (INA)

h)???Finally, on 22nd July 1947, the final form of the National Flag was adopted with the three above colors and replaced Chakra with Ashok’s Dharam Chakra with 24 spokes at the center.

Pingali Venkayya (2 August 1876/8 – 4 July 1963) was an Indian freedom fighter and a Gandhian. He was also as a lecturer, author, geologist, educationalist, agriculturist, and polyglot.

Significance of Our National Flag

The three colors of the National Flag and the Ashok Chakra illustrate great meanings to follow as below:

a)???Colour- Saffron –Strength and Courage

b)???Colour White???- Peace and Truth

c)???Colour Green??- Fertility, growth, and auspiciousness

Ashok’s Lion Chakra with 24 spokes (as per Buddhism) represents the” Law of the wheel” - Dynamism of life and death is stagnant. Also, it is explained that 24 spokes represent the twenty-four hours, which is a movement of life.

The lion symbolizes- Royalty and leadership.

Ashok’s Lion chakra was situated at Sarnath, near Banaras.

24 spokes signify also 24 virtues as per Buddhism

Love, courage, kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience, peacefulness self-control, and selflessness. righteousness, self-sacrifice truthfulness, justice, mercy, graciousness, humility, empathy, sympathy, spiritual knowledge, and supreme wisdom. supreme morality, altruism, and hope.

Ashoka was the third emperor of the Mauryan dynasty, grandson of its founder Chandragupta and son of the second emperor, Bindusara. Upon Bindusara's death, Ashoka and his brothers engaged in a war of succession, and Ashoka emerged victorious after several years of conflict.

Following his successful but bloody conquest of the?Kalinga?country on the east coast, Ashoka renounced armed conquest and adopted a policy that he called “conquest by?dharma” (i.e., by principles of right life).

In order to gain wide publicity for his teachings and his work, Ashoka made them known by means of oral announcements and by engravings on rocks and pillars at suitable sites. These inscriptions—the?rock edicts?and pillar edicts (e.g., the lion capital of the pillar found at Sarnath, which has become India’s national emblem),

Summary of the National Flag Code

The National Flag Code was finally concluded in 2002 when it allowed individual and private organizations to hoist and unfurl the National Flag at their respective places on 26th January 2002. Probably, the Industrialists fought and pursued unusually to win this decision finally.

The National Flag code is divided into three parts-

I - General description of the National Flag

II- Display of National Flag by members, public, private organizations, and educational Institutions.

III- Display of National Flag by central & state Government organizations and their agencies

Part I

a)???tri-color- Saffron, White, and Green with Ashok Chakra at the center

b)???Three equal Strips of the above Colour

c)???Proportion – Length: Width: 3:2

Part II & III

a)???Hoisting the flag briskly and lowering it down slowly

b)???Not to use as a drapery, costumes, cover, receptacle, and No Lettering on it,

c)???Flowers and petals are allowed to keep in the flag before unfurling

d)???Flag must not touch ground and trail water

e)???Damaged flags in any form must not be displayed

f)????No other flag should be hoisted from the same mast displaying the National Flag.

g)???Always to be placed at the extreme right of the dias and it should be at the left of the audience.

h)???When flying with the Flags of other countries, the National Flag must be at the extreme right, and other flags should start from the left in alphabetical order of country’s names.

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i)????The mast of no other flag should be higher than the National Flag. Also, no garland/ flower shall be put on the top of the mast holding the National Flag.

j)????Ideally, it should be displayed from sunrise to sunset irrespective of the weather.

k)???Flag should not be used to cover the desk at the Dias

l)????Must not be used to drape the hood, top sides, or back of any vehicle

m)?When raising and lowering down all persons present must be in an attention position and facing to the flag

n)???When the flag is in a moving column, the persons present over there must be in attention position and salute as flag passes them. A dignitary may take a salute without a headdress.

o)???UN Flag may be placed on either side of the National Flag, but preferably, the National flag should be at the right only.

p)???When the National Flag is displayed against a wall with other flags from crossed staffs, the National Flag shall be on the right again.

q)???The National Flag must be displayed at the house of President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governor, Lt Governors” houses during their stay at Headquarters, and on leaving the stations the flag should be lowered down. Thereafter, the flag should be hoisted again as soon as they would be back in stations.

r)????When President / Prime Minister visits any Institution, National Flag must be unfurled during their visits as a sign of respect.

s)???When the President, VP, and Prime Minister/ other specified dignitaries visit the other countries, the National flag must fly on the aircraft at the side of embarking/ disembarking of the dignitaries on a touchdown of the aircraft at other country

t)????During the inland traveling by the above-specified dignitaries., the National flag must display on the engine at the side facing the platform and should be flying on halting the train at a specific station.

Half Masting of the National Flag

a)???Half-masting of the National flag shall happen on the death of a specified dignitary like the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and others as specified in the Flag code and maintained at half-mast position during the entire mourning period as specified and also must happen as per the recommend places/ towns.

b)???The flag must not be kept in half mast position even during a death /morning period if it coincides with Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and the National Week (6th April to 13th April – on the remembrance of the martyrs of Jaliwanalabagh). However, the flag must be in half mast position in the building till only the demised soul is placed in the building.

c)???Also, the National Flag must fly at the place where the funeral is done for the dignitaries as specified.

d)???On the occasions of Central, State, Military, and Para Military force funerals the flag shall be draped over the bier or coffin with saffron towards the head of the bier. The flag should not be lowered down into the grave or burnt on the pyre.

e)???Before lowering down the half-mast flag, it should be hoisted to the top of the mast before finally lowering it down.

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