Flag of India - evolution and history

As you know, India for a long time was a colony of England. In the distant past, the British "Jack" proudly barked over the country. Then, in the years of gaining independence, the flag of India-republic was approved . From 1947 to the present, it is used in the state, and the term "tricolor" for the inhabitants of the country means exactly the national banner.

Key Colors

The basis of the palette was invented by Pingali Venkaya for the National Indian Congress. It consists of three horizontal strips, equally wide: "deep saffron" at the top, white - in the middle, the bottom one - a bright green color. In the center there is a wheel with spokes ("Ashoka Chakra"), the color of the drawing is dark blue. The modern flag of India is rectangular, the ratio of length to width is three to two. It is also used for military purposes, in the army. Specification requires that the panel be made only from the material "hadi" - homespun cloth, which became popular due to Gandhi. Even on the initiative of Mahatma, the banner was painted on the banner for a while, but then it was removed. There remains the image of the wheel-chakra, which symbolizes the movement.

Flag of India - value

The modern poly-confessional state avoids the religious interpretation of the "tricolor". Colors are revealed as symbols of fertility, strength, peace. Previously, they also symbolized the various religious communities of the state. So originally they were interpreted by the authors of the flag, as well as by the spiritual leader Gandhi (but he soon also tended to a more neutral interpretation). It is interesting that before the spinning wheel, the God of Ganesha and even the Mother of the Cow were considered candidates for the image of the Indian flag, but they did not pass the competition. Some time on the banner there was a star crescent - the symbol of Islam. The chakra-wheel depicted there now has 24 spokes and is approximately equal in diameter to the width of the middle-white strip.

Now saffron above means courage and strength of the country, white in the middle - peace and truth, green - growth, favorable conditions, fertility. Because of the very soft shades of saffron and green, India's flag in various interpretations is sometimes reproduced incorrectly. Here is an image from a government website showing the true shades of colors: the flag of India - a photo in front of you. That's what its correct image is.

Gandhi

The banner of the country is a conscious necessity, freedom, for which many people have laid their heads. Because it is a realized ideal, which is one of the images of a great country. It is necessary for all those to whom India is the home of the native, to recognize a single flag, to live and, possibly, to die for it. So said the great Gandhi.

Evolution and history

The flag of India (national) has undergone some changes in its form from the day of its first appearance in 1906 in Calcutta. Then the cloth also consisted of three stripes, but other colors: red, yellow, green.

The next was raised already in Paris by Mrs. Kama and her associates - exiled revolutionaries in 1907. The colors are the same as those of the first, but seven stars were depicted on the upper strip, which meant the seven wise men, the sons of Brahma. According to their names, even in Indian astronomy, the main luminaries of the constellation Ursa Major are called . The saptariks are considered in mythology as the creators of the existing universe and the progenitors of all who live today.

There was also a flag with lotuses in 1906 (officially recognized as a flower in India). He was with a crescent moon (a sign of Islam, and in Hinduism it symbolizes a cold mind and "a vessel with immortality nectar"). There was a banner with the image of the sun and the motto "Vende Mataram" (respect for mothers). He is now the official symbol of the city of Calcutta. Also, a cloth with the British "Jack" in the corner - in 1917, with "Gandhi spinning wheel" - in 1921, with a spinning wheel, but with the flowers now existing - in 1931. This year is considered a turning point in the history of the Indian symbol of statehood (see above the flag of India - photo), and then the spinning wheel symbolized the progress and development of the country. Then it was replaced by a chakra wheel.

Coat of arms and the flag of India

But the emblem of the state is the four lions, back to back standing on the abacus. The fourth, however, is not visible because of the backs of comrades! This is also related to the history of Buddhism: the "lion capital" was installed in Sarnath by the emperor Ashoka, thus noting the area where Gautama first taught the teachings of the Dharma. The image of this particular sculpture was declared the National Indian emblem (coat of arms) in 1950, when India became a republic.

So, on the coat of arms - four Indian lions on a circular pedestal. On the abacus placed images of four animals - the symbols of directions: the elephant - the east, the lion - the north, the bull - the west, the horse - the south (only the horse and the elephant are visible). Below - a lotus, which symbolizes the source of life. Even lower is the motto in Devanagari: "Only Truth wins!" This is a quote from the ancient Vedas. And the whole emblem symbolizes courage, prudence, the strength of the spirit of the Indian nation.

It remains to add that in the country there are rather strict rules in relation to state symbols collected in the Code. The flag should not be used as clothing or drapery. He can not deliberately touch water or land. It is forbidden to throw a cloth over vehicles. "Tricolor" can not be used as a garland. It must fly from sunrise to sunset, regardless of the weather.