The Indian National Flag, or Tiranga, is more than just a symbol of national pride—it is a reflection of India’s struggle for independence, unity, and identity. The journey of the flag, from its earliest versions in the early 20th century to the iconic tricolor of today, tells the story of a nation’s relentless pursuit of freedom.
Each version of the flag was a response to the political and social climate of its time, carrying different symbols, colors, and meanings. What started as a revolutionary banner eventually transformed into the official flag of independent India, representing courage, truth, and progress.
In this post, we take you through a historical timeline of the evolution of the Indian flag, uncovering six key milestones that shaped its design and significance.
1. 1906 – The First Unofficial Indian Flag (Calcutta Flag)
Hoisted at Parsee Bagan, Calcutta
- Design: Three horizontal stripes – green (top), yellow (middle), and red (bottom). The green stripe had eight half-opened lotus flowers, the yellow had “Vande Mataram” inscribed in Devanagari script, and the red displayed a sun and a crescent moon.
- Significance: Considered the first attempt at a national flag, it was a powerful statement during the Swadeshi Movement, signifying resistance against British rule.
2. 1907 – The Berlin Committee Flag (Bhikaji Cama Flag)
Hoisted by Bhikaji Cama in Stuttgart, Germany
- Design: Slightly modified version of the 1906 flag, with green, saffron, and red stripes, featuring the same symbols.
- Significance: This flag was unfurled on foreign soil at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, Germany, marking India’s independence movement at the international level.
3. 1917 – The Home Rule Movement Flag
Associated with Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- Design: Five red and four green horizontal stripes, with seven white stars (Saptarishi constellation) and a Union Jack in the top left corner. A crescent moon and a star were also included.
- Significance: This flag was an effort to demand self-governance within the British Empire, influenced by the Irish Home Rule Movement.
4. 1921 – Gandhi’s Tricolour Proposal
Presented at the All India Congress Session
- Design: A hand-spun charkha (spinning wheel) at the center of a three-color flag – white (top) for peace, green (middle) for faith and fertility, and red (bottom) for sacrifice.
- Significance: This was Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a flag that represented Hindus, Muslims, and other communities, united under self-reliance and Swadeshi ideals.
5. 1931 – The Congress Tricolour Flag
Officially adopted by the Indian National Congress
- Design: A tricolor of saffron (top), white (middle), and green (bottom), with a spinning wheel (charkha) in the center.
- Significance: This version laid the foundation for the present-day flag. Saffron symbolized courage, white stood for peace, and green represented fertility and faith. The charkha represented self-sufficiency and economic independence.
6. 1947 – The Birth of the National Flag of Independent India
Adopted on July 22, 1947
- Design: Retained the saffron, white, and green tricolour, but replaced the spinning wheel with the Ashoka Chakra (a navy blue 24-spoke wheel taken from Emperor Ashoka’s Lion Capital at Sarnath).
- Significance: The Ashoka Chakra represents eternal motion, righteousness, and progress, while the three colors symbolize sacrifice (saffron), truth and peace (white), and faith and prosperity (green).
Final Thoughts
The evolution of the Indian National Flag is a testament to India’s rich history and the sacrifices made for freedom. From the 1906 Calcutta Flag, which was the first recorded attempt at a national flag, to the 1947 adoption of the tricolor with the Ashoka Chakra, each version represented different aspirations, leaders, and movements.
This journey saw the influence of freedom fighters like Bhikaji Cama, Mahatma Gandhi, and the Indian National Congress, each contributing to the transformation of the flag into what it is today.
As you explore this historical timeline, you’ll discover how each version of the flag played a role in India’s independence movement and nation-building. Today, the Tiranga stands as a proud symbol of India’s unity, diversity, and democratic values, reminding every citizen of the sacrifices that made freedom possible. Jai Hind!
Source 1 – https://knowindia.india.gov.in/my-india-my-pride/indian-tricolor.php
Source 2 – https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/jul/doc202272975301.pdf
