Independence Day 2024: Unveiling the deep history of the nation's proud tapestry, the 'Tiranga'

As the 78th Independence Day draws near, the nation prepares to honour the indomitable spirit that led to its freedom on August 15, 1947.

The 'Tiranga,' or tricolour, symbolizes the resilience, progress, and unity that Independence Day represents. It stands as a tribute to the unwavering dedication of the martyrs who guided the nation to the dawn of liberty.

History of the 'Tiranga'

When thinking of India's flag, the colours saffron, white, green, and blue naturally come to mind. However, the initial design in 1921 featured two bands of red and green, representing Hindus and Muslims, with a white stripe symbolizing peace and other communities, and a spinning wheel emblem representing progress.

This design, credited largely to freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya, underwent changes, eventually taking its current form in 1931 during a Congress Committee meeting in Karachi (now in Pakistan). Saffron replaced red, and the colour sequence was altered.

The flag was intended to be secular, free from religious symbolism. In today's flag, saffron represents "strength and courage," white symbolizes "peace and truth," and green signifies "fertility, growth, and the land's auspiciousness." The Ashok Chakra, featuring 24 spokes, replaced the charkha, symbolizing "the dynamism of life and the end of stagnation."

The final flag design

On July 22, 1947, in Delhi's Constitution Hall, the Constituent Assembly of India formally adopted the national flag for an independent India. The proposal stated that the flag would consist of a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesari), white, and dark green in equal proportions, with a navy blue wheel in the center, reminiscent of the emblem on the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.

On August 16, 1947, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru raised the final version of the Indian National Flag at the Red Fort—a historic moment that marked the culmination of decades of struggle leading to the nation's independence.

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