Decoding the tricolour: What the Indian flag colours symbolise
Middle: White (with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra in the center)Bottom: India GreenThe Ashoka Chakra is a 24-spoked navy blue wheel at the center.The flag's official proportion is 2:3, with the three stripes of identical dimension.SAFFRON: SYMBOL OF COURAGE AND SACRIFICEThe top saffron band represents:Courage, strength, and sacrifice: It highlights the spirit of selfless service, the legacy of martyrs, and the determination that powered India's freedom movement.Renunciation and selflessness: Saffron, associated with India's spiritual traditions, calls upon leaders and citizens alike to prioritise national good over personal gain.WHITE: SIGN OF PEACE, TRUTH, AND HONESTYThe middle white band stands for:Peace and truth: White projects India's commitment to harmony, non-violence, and peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities.Purity and honesty: The color underlines justice, transparency, and the guiding path of truth in public affairs.Ashoka Chakra: Set in the center, this navy blue wheel or 'Dharma Chakra' (Wheel of Law) is inspired by the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath and invokes the ideals of justice, progress, and the dynamism of life and change. Its 24 spokes represent righteous conduct and forward movement.GREEN: EMBLEM OF FAITH, FERTILITY, AND PROSPERITYThe bottom green band symbolisesFertility and growth: Rooted in India's agricultural foundations, green denotes the country's rich natural wealth and bountiful land.Faith and chivalry: It conjures hope, renewal, and the importance of environmental harmony.Prosperity: Green is also associated with vibrancy, happiness, and the promise of a flourishing nation.THE ASHOKA CHAKRA: ETERNAL WHEEL OF LAWPlacing the navy blue Ashoka Chakra at the center of the white band brings additional layers of meaning:Progress and righteousness: The 24-spoke wheel, derived from Emperor Ashoka's symbolism, embodies motion, justice, and the law of dharma.Unity: It highlights the principle that India must always move forward, adapting and progressing in tune with universal values.The current design, formulated by Pingali Venkayya and adopted on July 22, 1947, is the result of several iterations during India's freedom movement. Earlier flags used different colors and symbols, sometimes with communal significance. The final version was deliberately crafted to emphasize unity, secularism, and inclusiveness, avoiding any sectarian associations.The Tiranga is more than a national emblem—it is a daily reminder of the principles that bind the Republic of India.- EndsMust Watch
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The Hindu
a day ago
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Watch: Did you know that only one village in India makes the national flag?
Today is National Flag Day, and here's something most people don't know. Only one village in the entire country is authorised to make the Indian national flag. That village is Bengeri, located near Hubballi in Karnataka. Here lies the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyog Samyukta Sangha, or KKGSS. It is the only unit in India certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to manufacture the national flag. The process begins in Tulasigeri, a village in Karnataka's Bagalkot district. Here, hand-spun khadi cloth is woven, as required by the Flag Code of India, which mandates that the national flag must be made from hand-spun and handwoven khadi. This cloth is sent to KKGSS in Bengeri, where it goes through dyeing, screen printing, stitching, and quality checks. Each flag is made according to strict specifications set by the BIS and the Flag Code: the flag must follow a 3:2 ratio, the Ashoka Chakra must have 24 spokes, evenly spaced, the colours, saffron, white, and green, must match standardised shades KKGSS produces the flag in nine official sizes, ranging from small desktop flags to large flags used on government buildings. The organisation has a predominantly female workforce, and most parts of the flag-making process, including stitching, are done by hand. The unit was established in 1957 by freedom fighter Venkatesh Magadi. In 2006, it received official recognition to manufacture the Indian national flag. The flags made in Bengeri are used across the country, at government offices, embassies, ceremonial events, and national holidays. Even the flag hoisted at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations is made in this small village. Credits Presentation: Yuvasree S Video: Thamodharan B Script and Production: Shikha Kumari A
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Decoding the tricolour: What the Indian flag colours symbolise
The Indian National Flag, known as the Tiranga or Tricolour, is a vibrant emblem of India's identity, heritage, and values. Each band and element on the flag carries deep historical and philosophical meaning, rooted in India's struggle for independence and its diverse cultural STRUCTURE OF THE FLAGThe flag consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width:Top: Deep Saffron (Kesariya)advertisement Middle: White (with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra in the center)Bottom: India GreenThe Ashoka Chakra is a 24-spoked navy blue wheel at the flag's official proportion is 2:3, with the three stripes of identical SYMBOL OF COURAGE AND SACRIFICEThe top saffron band represents:Courage, strength, and sacrifice: It highlights the spirit of selfless service, the legacy of martyrs, and the determination that powered India's freedom and selflessness: Saffron, associated with India's spiritual traditions, calls upon leaders and citizens alike to prioritise national good over personal SIGN OF PEACE, TRUTH, AND HONESTYThe middle white band stands for:Peace and truth: White projects India's commitment to harmony, non-violence, and peaceful coexistence among its diverse and honesty: The color underlines justice, transparency, and the guiding path of truth in public Chakra: Set in the center, this navy blue wheel or 'Dharma Chakra' (Wheel of Law) is inspired by the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath and invokes the ideals of justice, progress, and the dynamism of life and change. Its 24 spokes represent righteous conduct and forward EMBLEM OF FAITH, FERTILITY, AND PROSPERITYThe bottom green band symbolisesFertility and growth: Rooted in India's agricultural foundations, green denotes the country's rich natural wealth and bountiful and chivalry: It conjures hope, renewal, and the importance of environmental Green is also associated with vibrancy, happiness, and the promise of a flourishing ASHOKA CHAKRA: ETERNAL WHEEL OF LAWPlacing the navy blue Ashoka Chakra at the center of the white band brings additional layers of meaning:Progress and righteousness: The 24-spoke wheel, derived from Emperor Ashoka's symbolism, embodies motion, justice, and the law of It highlights the principle that India must always move forward, adapting and progressing in tune with universal current design, formulated by Pingali Venkayya and adopted on July 22, 1947, is the result of several iterations during India's freedom movement. Earlier flags used different colors and symbols, sometimes with communal significance. The final version was deliberately crafted to emphasize unity, secularism, and inclusiveness, avoiding any sectarian Tiranga is more than a national emblem—it is a daily reminder of the principles that bind the Republic of India.- EndsMust Watch
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2 days ago
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History Today: When India adopted the Tricolour as its national flag
The Tricolour was adopted to be the national flag of independent India on July 22, 1947. The flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921 and initially consisted of red and green bands instead of saffron, white and green colours that are visible today read more The Indian national flag is a symbol of the country's freedom from 200 years of British oppression. Representational image The Indian national flag is a sign of the country's freedom from British rule. Fluttering high, especially on government buildings, the Tricolour invokes feelings of pride and nationalism in the hearts of Indians. But did you know that it was adopted just weeks before independence? The Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolour as the national flag of independent India on July 22, 1947. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 2011, Norway experienced one of the deadliest attacks in its modern history when Anders Behring Breivik carried out a two-part assault that claimed 77 lives. Here is all that happened on this day. India adopted Tricolour as its national flag The Constituent Assembly of India officially adopted the Tricolour as the national flag of independent India on July 22, 1947, just weeks before gaining independence. This decision marked a defining step in India's journey to sovereignty. The flag, initially designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921, had evolved through several alterations over the years as various designs were proposed and used by different factions of the Indian independence movement. The initial design featured red and green bands (symbolising Hindus and Muslims respectively) with the spinning wheel in the centre. On Gandhi's suggestion, a white stripe was later added to represent all other communities and peace. This 'Swaraj Flag' or 'Gandhi Flag' gained unofficial acceptance and was used during various Indian National Congress sessions. The flag consists of saffron, white and green colours along with the Ashoka Chakra. File image/PTI However, the need for a flag that represented all of India without any communal interpretations became paramount as independence approached. An ad-hoc committee, headed by Dr Rajendra Prasad, was tasked with finalising the design. On July 22, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the resolution in the Constituent Assembly that cemented the design. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This flag consisted of saffron (symbolising courage and sacrifice) at the top, white (representing peace, truth and purity in the middle) and dark green (showing fertility and prosperity) at the bottom. The Ashoka Chakra in the middle, derived from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Emperor Ashoka, symbolises continuous progress. The adoption of the flag was more than a symbolic gesture; it was a proclamation of identity. As Jawaharlal Nehru said in his speech during the flag's adoption, 'This flag is not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of freedom to all people.' Deadliest shooting incident in Norway Norway experienced its deadliest attack since World War II, carried out by far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik on this day in 2011. The two-part attack claimed the lives of 77 people and injured hundreds more. The first attack took place at approximately 3:25 pm, when Breivik detonated a powerful car bomb in the government quarter in central Oslo. The blast, placed near the office of then-Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, killed eight people and caused significant damage to government buildings, shattering windows and creating widespread chaos. Many public offices were less occupied than usual due to the summer holiday, which likely prevented an even higher casualty count. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Andres Behring Breivik gestured as he arrived during his trial in court in Oslo, Norway. File image/AP Roughly an hour and a half later, Breivik arrived at the island of Utoya disguised as a police officer. The island was hosting the annual summer camp of the Workers' Youth League (AUF), the youth wing of Norway's ruling Labour Party. For over an hour, armed with an automatic rifle and a pistol, Breivik systematically hunted down and shot the hundreds of mostly teenage attendees. He lured some victims closer by pretending to be a rescuer, resulting in a horrifying massacre that killed 69 people, many of whom were shot repeatedly or drowned trying to escape into the cold water. Breivik was arrested on the island without resistance. During his trial in 2012, he showed no remorse and described his actions as 'cruel but necessary' to fight what he believed was the Islamisation of Europe and the Labour Party's role in promoting multiculturalism. He was found sane and guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum under Norwegian law, with the possibility of extension. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year On this day in 1992, Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar escaped from police custody. American aviator Wiley Post completed the first solo flight around the world on this day in 1933. In 1812, the duke of Wellington defeated '40,000 Frenchmen in 40 minutes' at Salamanca, Spain.
