The Flag Book
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DK FLAG FOUNDATION FLAG FOUNDATION Spread The Spark... INDIAN FLAG National Flag FLAG FOUNDATION The Pride Of India... It is a symbol of our Solidarity and Freedom. The National Flag represents the Struggle and Victory that we are ever so proud of. So let us gather together and express that solidarity. Let us fly our National Flag today and everyday. Jai Hind FOREWORD FLAG FOUNDATION The flag was not at all about people, as it was for power. In fact, the flag has never been for the common man in the past, as it always belonged to the ruler. But mere boundaries cannot define a nation. It is when people believe in the idea of their shared existence, the values they hold dear, and the sacrifices they may be required to make to uphold those ideals, it is then that a flag becomes an emotional anchor. According to the Flag Code of India, the flag could be flown only on ceremonial occasions, not on all days. If democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people then why didn't the flag belong to the people of India who had struggled and made supreme sacrifices for independence? For the first time, in our 5,000-year-old history, the flag now finally belongs to the people of this country. On 23rd January 2004, the Honorable Supreme Court of India ruled that flying of the National Flag is the Fundamental Right of an Indian citizen within Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India that grants freedom of speech and expression. It is important to display our National Flag not only at important public buildings but also at our homes to showcase our national pride and unity. As an Indian, each one of us is proud of our flag. The true spirit of our flag should reflect in living by its ideals, of doing our duty honestly and fulfilling our responsibility with a sense of dedication to the country. In my drive to promote the Tiranga, I interact with different kinds of people. Six decades after independence, the colours of our Tiranga have acquired a larger aura. Saffron stands for sacrifice, White stands for purity, and Green stands for growth. The Ashok Chakra is the wheel that denotes movement. We are now free to respectfully fly the National Flag at our homes, workplaces and other public areas, on all 365 days of the year, between sunrise and sunset. This was made possible by Shri Naveen Jindal (Chairman,Jindal Steel and Power Ltd.) Who fought a long legal battle on behalf of the common man of our country for the pride to fly the tricolor. When we hoist our National Flag, we rise above religious, regional and political affiliations and show our love for the nation. It is a constant reminder of the supreme sacrifices made by the sons of our soil for the glory of Mother India. The Tiranga has no religion of its own, it relates to no particular state or community, but belongs to all. It is secular in the true sense. In a sincere endeavour to uphold the honour of our National Flag and inspire the citizens, DK Flag Foundation is making an attempt to rekindle that spirit of nationalism by upholding the dignity of our Tiranga. Jai Hind INDEX FLAG FOUNDATION Page š WORD FROM THE FOUNDER OF DK FLAG FOUNDATION 01 š HISTORY OF THE FLAG 02 š YOUNG CRUSADER LIBERATES THE NATIONAL FLAG 03 š VARIOUS JUDGEMENTS - NATIONAL FLAG 05 š THE FLAG-CODE INDIA 2002 (AMENDED) 06 š SIGNIFICANCE OF COLOURS IN THE NATIONAL FLAG 07 š SPECIFICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL FLAG 07 š MANUFACTURE OF NATIONAL FLAGS 08 š CORRECT WAY TO FOLD THE NATIONAL FLAG 11 š ILLUSTRATED FLAG CODE 12 š FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S) 16 š DO'S AND DON'TS OF FLYING THE TRICOLOR 20 š PUNISHMENTS RELATED TO NATIONAL FLAG OFFENCES 21 Contents Source Courtesy : Flag Foundation Of India | Know Your Flag Jai Hind Word From The Founder Of DK Flag Foundation FLAG FOUNDATION The National Flag is witnessed only on the occasions of Independence Day and Republic Day, It has always been out of reach for the common man. But, Mumbai - based businessman Mr. Rakesh Bakshi turned his patriotic dream into reality by bringing the National Flag to the masses. Pioneering a one- of-a-kind initiative in India through DK Flag Foundation, Mr. Bakshi has plans to hoist the flag at different places in and around Mumbai. He dreams of seeing myriad flags dotting the horizon of Mumbai and its surrounding areas. He wants the National Flag to be accessible to Mr. Rakesh Bakshi, The Flagman Of India the common man and they should be able to touch it, feel it and experience the pride. The height of the flag masts and the size of the flags will keep increasing with each installation, so that the flags are visible from far off locations. The idea of installing flags came to Bakshi during one of his business trips to Istanbul, Turkey, three years ago. He was awestruck with flags unfurling everywhere in the city. Back in India, the tricolour instantly evoked a sense of patriotism and he decided to replicate the same in his city. His father was in the armed forces and wherever he lived, he would see the National Flag swaying high. The National Flag is evidently a matter of great pride for him. Through this initiative, Mr. Bakshi simply wants to evoke a sense of National Pride every time you see the tricolour unfurling near you... Our Mission & Vision At the DK Flag Foundation, we have taken up the cause of celebrating the freedom of our existence every day. Saluting millions of martyrs who have given us this exim gift of freedom. We are here to create awareness of the National Flag and clear misconceptions, that the common citizens / civilians are not permitted to own or display flag in their homes, offices and premises. For today’s generation nationalism and patriotism is a mere slogan. We are slowly forgetting the importance of the nation in our lives & we tend to take patriotism and sacrifice as the duty of Armed Forces only. DK Flag Foundation is an initiative to trigger our senses of Nationalism. To take the message of our Tiranga to every Indian, we intend to make use of all available and appropriate mediums, such as art and culture (printing and photography exhibitions, cultural programs and festivals, performing arts etc.), to schools and colleges in collaboration with civil society, professionals, corporate houses, educationists, and other like minded individuals / institutions with a special focus on children the youth of India. Jai Hind 01 History Of The Flag FLAG FOUNDATION The architect of the first flag of the Indian National Congress was Pingali Venkayya of Andhra Pradesh. In 1906, he attended the National Congress meeting at Calcutta but felt humiliated to stand under the Union Jack hoisted there. It is here that he was inspired to design a national flag for India. In April 1921, Gandhiji asked him to design a flag with a charkha in the centre. The idea to include the charkha was to represent the common man in the flag, however, it came from Raizada Hans Raj of Jalandhar (Punjab) and Gandhiji accepted it gladly. This is how the first flag of the Indian National Congress (INC) came into being. It has the white band on the top, green in the centre and a red band at the bottom with charkha in the centre. The white colour stood for minorities, green represented the Muslims, and red, the Hindus. This communal connotation later gave rise to discontentment among certain section of the people. In April 1931, the Congress leadership met to appoint a Flag Committee in order to dispel the religious sentiments attached to the flag. A different interpretation was given to the colours of the new flag. The saffron colour stood for courage and sacrifice, white for peace and prosperity and green for faith and fertility. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru suggested that white should be in the middle. The design was unanimously accepted by all and the first official flag of the Indian National Congress came into being. The flag had saffron on the top, white in the middle with the charkha on it and green at the bottom. In other words, the 1921 flag of Pingali Venkayya was accepted with minor modifications. The National Flag was born on 22 July, 1947, in the Constituent Assembly when the Adhoc Committee adopted the Tiranga as the National Flag of independent India as designed by Mrs. Badruddin Tyabji, wife of B.H.F. Tyabji an ICS officer of the 1934 batch and a Deputy Secretary in the Constituent Assembly. Consequent upon the historic announcement of the “declaration of independence on 15th August 1947”, an Adhoc Flag Committee was constituted under the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and it finally approved the sample prepared by Mrs. Badruddin Tyabji. On 14th August, 1947, at 10.45pm, the Central Hall of the Council House (known as the Parliament House) moved and approved the resolution amidst thunderous cheers, acclamation and blowing of conch-shells. Subsequently on 15th August, 1947, the first public flag salutation ceremony was held at the War Memorial in Princess Park, near India Gate. Jai Hind 02 Young Crusader Liberates The National Flag FLAG FOUNDATION India adopted its National flag on 22 July, 1947. The codes related to the flag were, however, drawn between 1948-50, wherein there were restrictions on its free display by the common citizens.