Indian tricolor.
Exactly 79 years ago the Indian national flag took shape. From then till today, Indians have been celebrating 22nd July as National Flag Day. On this day in the year 1947, Ashok Chakra was installed in place of Charkha and the Constituent Assembly gave its approval. After 24 days, the country was declared independent from the slavery of the British. Since then, wherever the tricolor flag of India is seen fluttering, it fills every pore of the Indians with thrill.
Come, on the pretext of National Flag Day i.e. 22nd July, let us understand why Ashok Chakra was introduced in place of Charkha? What is the whole story of change in tricolor?
How did the initial development of the tricolor happen?
The present tricolor of India was not made in a day. Many flags were made during the freedom movement. Different groups used different flags. The spirit of patriotism, Swaraj and unity was visible in these flags. An early national flag was hoisted in Kolkata in the year 1906. It had green, yellow and red colours. Many other designs emerged in later years. In the year 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama hoisted an Indian flag abroad. It became an international symbol of India’s demand for independence. Then in 1917, during the Home Rule movement, a different flag was adopted. It had many stripes, stars and other symbols, but till then no flag was permanently accepted for the entire country.
Pingali Venkayya had first included the spinning wheel in the design of the tricolor.
Who imagined today’s tricolor?
Pingali Venkayya had an important contribution in the development of the tricolor. He was associated with the freedom movement. He had studied the design of flags. He envisioned a flag that would represent the whole of India. In 1921, during the session of the Indian National Congress in Vijayawada, Pingali Venkayya showed the design of a flag to Mahatma Gandhi. There were red and green colors in that design. At that time these colors were associated with the major religious communities of India. Mahatma Gandhi suggested that white color should also be added to it. White color was kept to represent peace and other communities of the country. A spinning wheel was placed in the middle of this flag. This flag gradually became a popular symbol of the freedom struggle.
Why was the spinning wheel chosen?
Charkha was a great symbol of Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts. Mahatma Gandhi used to emphasize on Swadeshi. He believed that India should become economically self-reliant. During the British rule, raw materials were sent out of India. Clothes made in foreign countries were then sold in India. This caused loss to Indian weavers and artisans. Local industries weakened. Mahatma Gandhi asked people to boycott foreign clothes. He promoted wearing Khadi and spinning the charkha. Charkha was not just a means of making cloth. Gradually the spinning wheel became a symbol of self-respect. Villages, farmers, laborers and artisans all started getting associated with this symbol.
white in tricolor The color symbolizes peace, truth and light.. Photo: PTI
Why was there a spinning wheel in the Congress flag?
In the year 1931, the Indian National Congress adopted a new tricolor. It had saffron color at the top, white in the middle and green at the bottom. A blue colored spinning wheel was placed in the middle of the white stripe. This flag was very similar to today’s national flag. The only difference was that in the present flag there is Ashoka Chakra instead of Charkha.
This tricolor became very popular during the freedom movement. It was hoisted in meetings, marches, movements and protests. The British government often saw this as a challenge. For the people this flag was the hope of freedom.
A new question arose near independence
India’s independence was confirmed in the year 1947. Now the country needed a flag which would not only be the flag of Congress but of the whole of India. There were different religions, languages, castes and cultures in India. The new national flag should be representative of all, so it was important that the flag not be directly linked to any one political organization. The charkha was a highly respected symbol of the freedom movement. But he also became very attached to the Congress flag. The new national flag should have transcended party identity. Therefore, the idea was to choose a symbol in the middle of the flag which shows India’s ancient heritage and universal values.
Practical problems related to the design of the charkha
There was also a practical reason behind changing the charkha. It was difficult to make the design of the charkha look the same from both sides. When the flag is viewed from both sides, its symbol should appear correctly. The thread and spindle of the charkha were made in one direction. When seen from the other side it looked upside down. The national flag required a simple, clear and balanced symbol on both sides. Ashok Chakra is round. There are 24 sticks in it. It appears almost the same from both sides, so it was considered more suitable for the flag.
Where was Ashoka Chakra taken from?
Ashoka Chakra is taken from the ancient history of India. It is related to the art and ideology of the time of Emperor Ashoka. The form of this Chakra has been taken from the lion head of the Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath. This lion head also became the royal emblem of India. There are four lions in Simhashirsha. There is a circular strip below it. Animal figures and Dharmachakra are made in it. Ashoka Chakra is also called Dharmachakra. Here religion does not mean just any religion or method of worship. Its broad meaning is justice, duty, morality and right conduct. Emperor Ashoka adopted the message of peace, compassion and moral governance after the war. Therefore, their chakra reminds us of responsibility along with power.
The saffron color at the top of the tricolor is a symbol of courage, sacrifice and selfless service. Photo: PTI
What do the 24 spokes mean?
There are 24 spokes in Ashoka Chakra. They are considered a symbol of speed and duty of life. The cycle tells us that the country should not stop. He must move forward continuously. These are associated with values like truth, courage, patience, peace, service, justice, restraint and virtue. Most importantly, the circle is a symbol of movement. Stagnation was not considered good for life and society. India had to move forward after independence. He had to overcome the problems of poverty, illiteracy, discrimination and subjugation. Ashoka Chakra gives the message of this continuous progress.
Also know the meaning of the colors present in the national flag.
The national flag has three equal horizontal stripes. Saffron color is at the top. It is considered a symbol of courage, sacrifice and selfless service. It inspires the country’s leadership and citizens to rise above personal interests. There is white color in the middle. It is a symbol of peace, truth and light. The white stripe reminds the country to move in the right direction. Green color is associated with prosperity, development, land, agriculture and life. A large population of India is associated with villages and farming, hence this color also shows the feeling of earth and progress.
What was the big message of the final change?
The replacement of Ashok Chakra in the Indian tricolor by Ashok Chakra was a conscious decision. The spinning wheel was a symbol of struggle and self-reliance. Ashoka Chakra became a symbol of justice, speed, peace and moral duty. New India did not just want to be free from British rule. He wanted to become a democratic, inclusive and progressive nation. Ashoka Chakra expresses this goal. The tricolor tells us that courage is needed, peace is needed, development is needed and the desire to move forward continuously. This is why the Ashoka Chakra is such a powerful symbol of India’s national identity today.
Also read: Why were 5 Jantar Mantars built in the country, how did they become the center of astronomical science?
