By AMAN UPADHYAY
January 24, 2025
Republic Day marks the day India became a republic, with the Constitution coming into effect on January 26, 1950. But how does the flag relate to this?
The tricolour’s three colours have deep meanings—saffron for strength, white for peace, and green for fertility. The wheel represents progress.
The journey started in 1904 when Sister Nivedita created the first flag with red and yellow, symbolizing freedom and victory.
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The first tricolour was designed in 1906 with blue, yellow, and red stripes. It featured stars and symbols of the sun, crescent, and a star.
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On August 7, 1906, the first unofficial national flag, the Calcutta Flag, was hoisted with red, yellow, and green stripes to protest the Bengal Partition.
Credit: drishti IAS
In 1907, Madam Cama unfurled the first Indian flag in a foreign land at Stuttgart, Germany. The flag had saffron, green, and red with no communal meaning.
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In 1916, Pingali Venkaya designed a flag with a ‘charkha’ symbolizing India’s economic regeneration. Gandhi suggested adding a white band for unity.
Credit: drishti IAS
In 1931, the tricolour with the ‘charkha’ became the Congress flag. It was non-communal, representing unity for all Indians.
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After India’s independence, the flag was adopted with the Dharma Chakra replacing the ‘charkha’. It became the official National Flag.
The Flag Code, updated in 2002, allows Indians to proudly fly the flag any day, as long as it is respected.
In 2025, India is celebrating 76 years of being a republic. The tricolour continues to be a symbol of pride, unity, and progress.