History of Tiranga: Evolution of National Flag of India (1906-1947)
- Inarch Center
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
A journey through time revealing how India's national flag evolved from revolutionary dreams to a symbol of unity and independence
People all over the country gazed at the flag as it hoisted and unfurled on the day that would proudly be celebrated as Independence Day every coming year. On 15 August 1947, when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour at the Red Fort, it marked not just India's independence, but the culmination of a remarkable journey. The national flag of India, officially adopted on 22 July 1947, but its story encompasses decades of struggle, creativity, and the dreams of countless freedom fighters who envisioned a free India.
The history of the Indian national flag mirrors the evolving political and cultural aspirations of the country during its struggle for independence.
The earliest known version of an Indian national flag emerged during the height of the Swadeshi and Boycott struggle, a time when the partition of Bengal had sparked unprecedented nationalist fervor across the country. On 7 August 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square of Kolkata, history was made when the first Indian flag was hoisted. This pioneering design, known as the Calcutta Flag, featured horizontal stripes of green, yellow, and red with eight lotuses, a sun, a crescent moon, and in the middle of the yellow strip Vande Mataram was written.
This flag was the brainchild of Sachindra Prasad Bose and Hemchandra Kanungo, two passionate revolutionaries who understood the power of symbols in mobilizing public sentiment. Their creation represented the first serious attempt to design a flag that could unite Indians across religious and regional lines, setting a precedent for future flag designs that would prioritize inclusivity and representation.
The struggle for Indian independence was not confined to the subcontinent. In the salons and meeting halls of Europe, Indian revolutionaries were building international support for their cause.
On 22 August 1907, at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, Germany, Madame Bhikaji Cama made history by unfurling what would become known as the Berlin Committee Flag — the first Indian flag to be hoisted on foreign soil.
This flag, designed collaboratively by Bhikaji Cama, Shyamji Krishna Varma, and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, closely resembled the Calcutta Flag but carried subtle modifications that reflected the international dimension of India's freedom struggle.
The act of displaying the Indian flag at an international forum was not merely symbolic; it was a declaration that India's fight for independence had global dimensions and international legitimacy.
The next significant change came with the Home Rule Movement Flag of 1917, introduced by Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. This design departed from earlier versions by featuring red and green stripes, the Union Jack in the top left corner, seven stars representing the Sapta Rishi, and a crescent with a star. It reflected both the growing demand for self-rule and the political realities of the time.
The entry of Mahatma Gandhi into the Indian political scene revolutionized not only the methods of resistance but also the symbolism of the independence movement.
By 1921, Gandhi had emerged as the undisputed leader, and his philosophy of non-violence and self-reliance began to reshape the freedom struggle's visual identity.
Gandhi ji envisioned a tricolor with red representing the Hindu community, green for Muslims, and white for all other communities — a design that explicitly acknowledged India's religious diversity while promoting unity. At the center of this tricolor was the charkha (spinning wheel).
The young freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya, from Andhra Pradesh, was tasked with creating the visual design of Gandhi's conceptual flag. Venkayya, who had met Gandhi during his travels, brought both artistic skill and deep patriotic conviction to the task. His design would serve as the foundation for all subsequent versions of the Indian flag.
The Final Evolution: Toward the Modern Tiranga
A decade later, in 1931, the Indian National Congress sought to finalize a flag design that would be both inclusive and firmly rooted in the independence struggle. While white and green remained, the Congress replaced the red colour with saffron. The organization formally adopted the saffron-white-green tricolour featuring the charkha at its center, creating what would serve as the immediate precursor to India's modern national flag.
Subsequently, when Lord Mountbatten announced Britain's decision to grant independence to India, the political leadership recognized the urgent need for a national flag that would be acceptable to all parties and communities. In response to this imperative, an ad-hoc flag committee was formed under the chairmanship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad with the mandate to design the flag for free India. After securing Mahatma Gandhi's consent and approval, the committee decided to modify Pingali Venkayya's original design. In this final iteration, only the charkha was replaced with the Dharma Chakra — the distinctive 24-spoked wheel from the Lion Capital of Ashoka. This change reflected the new nation's desire to connect with its ancient heritage while moving away from purely religious symbolism. The Ashoka Chakra, representing the eternal wheel of law (dharma), provided a more inclusive symbol that could represent all Indians regardless of their religious background.
The display and use of the Indian National Flag are governed by the Flag Code of India, 2002, and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which consolidates all related laws, practices, and conventions. It allows every citizen to display the national flag with dignity and honor, provided they follow specific guidelines regarding its size, proportions, and the manner in which it is hoisted or displayed. The Code specifies that the flag should always occupy a position of honor, never touch the ground or water, and not be used as drapery, clothing, or decoration, except in state-sanctioned circumstances. Amendments in recent years have permitted the use of polyester and machine-made flags, and citizens may now fly the Flag Day and night, provided it is in the open and displayed correctly.
These regulations ensure that the Tiranga is treated not just as a piece of cloth but as a living emblem of national pride and unity.
The textual journey of our beloved Tiranga may end in a paragraph or two, but the emotions that we nurture in our hearts would need a limitless medium to convey to the world. The tricolor is more than cloth and colors — it is the heartbeat of a nation, stitched with the sacrifices, dreams, and resilience of millions. Every flutter in the wind is a reminder that our freedom was earned through courage, and it is ours to protect with unity and pride.
Wish you a very happy and awakening 79th Independence Day!
About the Author
I am Shravani Deshmukh, a second-year B.A. History student at Fergusson College, Pune. My passion for archaeology drives me to uncover and interpret the past through diverse source materials. Writing allows me to bring lesser-known narratives to light, weaving together facts and human experiences to make history vivid, relevant, and thought-provoking.
References
[1] Government of India, Press Information Bureau. — History of the Indian National Flag. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/jul/doc202272975301.pdf
[2] Flag Foundation of India. — History of Our National Flag. https://flagfoundationofindia.in/history-of-our-national-flag.html
[3] Britannica — Flag of India. https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-India
[4] Cultural India. — Significance and History of Indian National Flag. https://culturalindia.org.in/unveiling-the-significance-and-history-of-indian-national-flag
[5] Press Information Bureau. (n.d.). Flag Satyagraha Factsheet. https://www.pib.gov.in/AllFactsheet.aspx?MenuId=12
[6] Press Information Bureau. — Flag of India – Factsheet. https://www.pib.gov.in/AllFactsheet.aspx?MenuId=12
[7] Ministry of Home Affairs. — Flag Code of India, 2002. https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/flagcodeofindia_070214.pdf
[9] Indian Culture Portal: https://indianculture.gov.in/digital-district-repository/district-repository/evolution-national-flag-india
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