Independence Day Special: How India's First National Flag Hoisted On 15 August 1947 Came Into Being

The Indian National Flag also known as Tiranga, symbolises the nation's enduring spirit of freedom and unity. Its evolution is deeply intertwined with India's struggle for independence, reflecting the aspirations, sacrifices and indomitable patriotism of its people.

Today only one flag survives from our first Independence day and notably that is not from Delhi, but more about it will come later.

As a tribute to our beloved Tiranga, here's a brief primer on the evolution of our national flag.

1. The Early Beginnings (1906)

The journey of the Indian National Flag began during the Swadeshi and Boycott movement in 1906.

On 7 August 1906, the first unofficial national flag was hoisted in Calcutta (now Kolkata). This flag, often referred to as the "Calcutta Flag", featured three horizontal stripes — green, yellow, and red — with symbols representing unity and diversity among India's people.

The flag marked the beginning of the idea of a unified national symbol for the Indian independence movement.

2. The Many Changes In Between (1917 And 1931)

The flag underwent several changes over the years, with different designs and symbols being introduced to represent the nation's growing aspirations.

In 1917, when the Home Rule movement was at its peak under the leadership of Dr Annie Besant and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, another flag was hoisted. It had five alternate red and four green horizontal stripes, and seven stars in the saptarishi configuration. A white crescent and star occupied one top corner, and the other had Union Jack.

Later, in 1921, the flag took another change, coming closer to the now familiar present form and was designed by Pingali Venkayya.

3. The Final Transformation (1931)

The most significant transformation occurred in 1931 when the flag's colours were finalised: Saffron for courage and sacrifice, white for peace and truth, and green for fertility and growth. These colours were chosen to reflect the values and hopes of the Indian people.

The flag at this stage also included a spinning wheel, symbolising self-reliance and the Gandhian ideals of simplicity and economic independence.

3. The Dharma Chakra And Formal Adoption (1947)

As India neared independence, the flag underwent one final change. The spinning wheel was replaced by the Dharma Chakra, or the Ashoka Chakra, which symbolises the eternal wheel of law, justice, and progress.

This modification was made to emphasise the importance of dharma and the rule of law in the new nation.

The flag, in its current form, was formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, just a few weeks before India gained independence.

4. The Historic Hoisting On 15 August 1947 And India's First Flag

On the dawn of 15 August 1947, at 5.30 am, one of the first official flags of independent India was hoisted at Fort St George in Chennai which is also now the only surviving flag from our first Independence Day.

This particular flag, made of pure silk and measuring approximately 3.50 metres in length and 2.40 metres in width (around 12 feet by 8 feet), is now preserved as a national treasure in the Fort St George Museum.

Today, it stands as a testament to the entire struggle that Indians went through to achieve freedom, symbolising the culmination of decades of toil and perseverance.

The flag's evolution also reflects the nation's growing consciousness and unity, ultimately becoming the Tiranga — a representation of India's values, diversity, and unwavering spirit.