Independence Day: Facts Behind "Triranga"

In Indian calendar 15 August is the day of pride, freedom and end of sacrifices and struggle. This is the independence day of India. So many fighters  had been wiped out their lives to be independent from Britishers. After being ruled by them for more than 200 years; the heroes of nation successfully got independence. On 14 August 1947 India had received it's freedom. 

When talked about patriotism, the most respectable thing that comes to our mind is the national flag. Generally a flag expresses the freedom of a country. National flag of India indicates the the hopes and aspirations of people of India. It is the symbol of our national pride. 

Indian national flag is consisted of three colours like deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. The top color represents the strength  and courage of the country. The middle color of the flag indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last, green color explains the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the nation. The chakra talks about there is life in movement and death in stagnation. The white band is a navy blue wheel in the center represents the Chakra. wheel is called as Ashoka Chakra which has 24 spokes. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. This is called as "Tricolor" or "Triranga".

The present national flag is not the first flag that has been used for India. Before independence it has went through various modification. 

In 1906, August 7, the first national flag of India have been hoisted in Calcutta. The flag was consisted of three horizontal colors of green, yellow and red. In middle of the flag "Bande Maataram" was placed. It was the unofficial flag of India. 

In 1907, the second flag of India was hoisted in Paris. It was so similar to the first flag. 

The third flag of India has been hoisted during Home Rule movement in 1917. It was hoisted by Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak. It had four green and five red horizontal strips arranged one by one. It had seven stars in the Saptarshi configuration. The Union Jack was in the left-hand top corner. White crescent and star in right-hand top corner was also there. 

In 1921 the forth flag of India was made. It was composed of green, red and white color. Green was for Muslims, red was for Hindus and white was for other religions. The spinning wheel or Chakra was also placed in it. 

A flag composed of saffron, white and green color with the spinning wheel of Gandhiji was adopted as the fifth national flag of India in 1931. 

And finally on July 22, 1947, the Constitution Assembly was adopted the present tricolor flag as free India National Flag. The only change was it had Ashoka Chakra instead of spinning wheel of Mahatma Gandhi. Till now this flag is presenting the tricolor flag of independent India. 

Protecting national security and national flag is our responsibility. Our Indian Constitution has given us the fundamental duties which includes respecting our national flag. Triranga is the pride of the nation.