Evolution of Indian national flag

FIRST – 1906, MIDDLE – 1921, FINAL STAGE - 1947

The first National Flag of India was hoisted on August 7, 1906 in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park), Kolkata. The flag was composed of three equal horizontal stripes of green, yellow and red. The green stripe on the top had eight white lotuses embossed in a row. The word Vande Mataram was inscribed in deep blue on the middle yellow stripe at the bottom had the sun in white on the left and the crescent and a star in white on the right. The second flag came out in 1921; Pingali Vengaiyah (an Andhra youth) prepared a flag and handed it to Gandhiji. It was in two colours, red and green representing two major communities and a large charkha extending to both the bands as a symbol of progress. Gandhiji apparently was pleased with the Flag and suggested to the youth to introduce a white stripe in the middle and superimpose the charkha in blue on it. On July 22 1947, Constituent assembly adopted a new Flag as free India’s National Flag with saffron at the top, white at the middle and green at the bottom in equal proportions and the chakra in navy blue on white stripe (Chakra which appears on the lion capital of Ashoka at Sarnath as Dharma Chakra). The diameter of the wheel (Chakra) shall be approximate to the width of the white band at the middle. The ratio of the width and length of the Flag shall ordinarily be two breadths by three lengths.

The significance of the colours is as follows: Saffron - Courage and sacrifice White - Truth and peace Green - Faith and chivalry Ratio - 3:2