Unique New Book Is a Must for Stamp Collectors Everywhere

Unique new book is a must for Stamp Collectors everywhere...

Sekhar Chakrabarti attempts something entirely original in The Indian National Flag unfurled through Philately. An acclaimed philatelist, he combines his love for stamps with his passion for vexillological research in this book. The result is a vivid account of the journey of flags in India, brilliantly illustrated with pictures of stamps depicting flags.

The pictures trace an account of the early Indian rulers, the European colonisers, the struggle for Independence, to finally arrive at the present tricolour. Chakrabarti has also covered other aspects of the flag, such as its role in the field of sports, at sea and at international forums. He has further discussed etiquettes and protocols concerning flags. All this is done with the spotlight firmly fixed on the Indian national flag. The illustrations are not simply confined to display of flags on stamps alone. There are pictures of rare first day covers (FDC), Cinderella labels, min- iature sheets, sheet watermarks, autographed commemorative stamps and various other postal stationery. Eminent personalities who have contributed to the shaping of the tricolour find pride of place in the illustrations. Mr Chakrabarti has used his own enviable collection of philatelic material to weave an engaging account of the history of flags through the medium of philately.

The following double spreads are intended

to give you a better idea of the contents Sekhar Chakrabarti is an interna- and style of the book. tionally famed senior philatelist and postal history collector. Born in 1946, For review copies or further information, he began collecting stamps in the ear- ly 1960s when ‘Thematic Philately’ please contact KODANSHA EUROPE at:- as a discipline was in its infancy in India. His other passion is Vexillology, which expertise he has married into his philatelic col- lections. His collection ‘Flags on Stamps’ has [email protected] been highly appreciated and brought laurels to (Tel. +44 (0)20 8293 0111) the country from several international stamp exhibitions held under the auspices of the Fed- eration Internationale de Philatelie (FIP). His name found a place in the Limca Book of Re- Softcover March cords for his collections of most stamps issued 99 from foreign countries featuring the Indian Flexibound 2013 national flag. He has curated philatelic exhibi- £10. tions on Rabindranath Tagore in Kolkata and Cairo (Egypt) organised by the Indian Council 241 x 151 mm; 172 pages, full colour throughout for Cultural Relations. He has also served as 348 photographs and illustrations a jury member at several philatelic exhibitions Printed on laminated art paper using latest technology organised by the Dept. of Posts and other phil- Early March release; advance copies now available atelic organisations. He is at present a retired engineer and lives in Kolkata. isbn 978-93-81523-39-1 P . T . O . → Contents

Foreword 9 Preface 13 Abbreviations & Glossary of Terms 15

Flags in Indian Epics and Legends 17 Age of Discovery and Arrival of the European Flags in India 20 Flags of Early Indian Rulers 34 Quest for a Distinctive Pan-Indian Flag 39 Birth of the Swaraj Flag 50 Conflicts around the Swaraj Flag 60 The Purna Swaraj Flag 71 Free India’s National Flag 81 Famous Flag-Related Events 102 Uses of Flags: International Forums 107 Foreword Flags at Sea 121 Military Flags 126 Legal Aspects, Etiquettes and Protocols 129 Patriotic Songs: Legacy of the Flag Continues 135

Appendices rchaeological evidence, going back to 4000 bc, suggests that the Appendix-I ‘The Vajra as a National Flag’ by Sister Nivedita, 1909 139 Egyptian ships carried a standard consisting of a pole with a Appendix-II ‘The National Flag’ by M.K. Gandhi, 1921 144 A Appendix-III ‘The National Flag’ by Prof. Suniti Kumar Chatterji, 1931 146 totemistic figure at the top. It is generally believed that such a standard was the sign of the province where the ship had been registered. Reference For Further Reading 155 in this connection had been made to the curved ibis emblem atop a

Index 157 pole representing the Ibis province. These totemistic emblems may be the precursor of later-day flags but these were not flags in the sense we understand them.

6 7 By 500 bc, the Chinese devised their silk flags of which the dragon flag was most popular. The Parthians of Central Asia adopted the dragon flag model from the Chinese only to transmit it to the Romans who gave it a cylindrical shape. The eagle motif of the Roman empire called vexillum (the Latin word for flag) came into use in about the year 100bc .

All these are known facts of history but what is less known is that the concept of a flag had already been developed in India when the great Bharata war, as told by the Mahabharata, was fought between the Kuru and Pandava tribes, not later than 800 bc. While narrating this inter-tribal war, the Mahabharata says that the presence of the Pandava hero, Arjuna, in the battlefield could be recognised from thekapidhvaja (flag charged with a hoisted for the first time and since then the national flag has been flying 25 27 on it. It is also the venue of the annual Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony in Chennai. The national flag, which was hoisted on 15 August 1947, is preserved in the Fort museum. 22 View of Calcutta, Age and the vagaries of weather had taken their toll on the 307-year- c. 1690, seen on Rs 6 denomination stamp issued old flag-mast and it became too weak despite the two dozen guy-wires in celebration of Calcutta’s supporting it against the gusty breeze from the Bay of Bengal. In 1994, 26 tercentenary on 24 August the towering flag-mast, a familiar landmark in the city, was replaced by a 1990. metallic one matching the original in size and form. 1997 shows the ship flying a Blue Ensign—an 23 Indian stamp incorrect depiction since it was flying a Red commemorating mail ship In 1690 Job Charnock established a factory at Calcutta (renamed Kolkata Ensign. Also the ship’s name is spelled as S.S. Hindostan but with in 2001). In 1698 the factory was fortified and named Fort William. British ‘Hindosthan’ whereas P&O spelled the name incorrect details. rule in India was firmly established in 1757 when the forces of the East as ‘Hindostan’. India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal in the Battle of Plassey. 24 S.S. Hindostan depicted on the cover of the ‘Story of However now it has been established that 24 August 1690 was not the birth Sheet watermarks on paper were created for P&O’, 1837–1987. date of Calcutta, nor was Job Charnock its founder. Calcutta existed long the purpose of printing the first Indian postage before the arrival of Charnock, at least since the fifteenth century. stamps at the surveyor general’s office in Calcutta 25 Sheet watermarks used in 1854. The watermark has the East India for printing the first set of Indian postage stamps, 1854. Company’s coat-of-arms amongst other symbols while the British lions are holding St George’s 26 Robert Clive and Cross flags of England. Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, 1757; oil on canvas by Francis Hayman (1708–1776).

27 India’s most famous 22 stamp with a major error: 28 inverted head. The four-annas There are frequent collaborations between 5 The stamp was issued stamp is one Flagsof the world’s over the South Pole The first stamps valid for postage throughout first bicolouredOn stamps. 9 January 1982, the first Indian Antarctic Expedition planted the Indian different countries for the exploration of outer in 1983 to commemorate India were placed on sale on 1 October 1854 national flag, Indian naval ensign, air force and coast guard ensigns over space. Squadron leader Rakesh Sharma became the first anniversary of the under the authority of the East India Company. 28 One anna, half anna Indian Antarctic Expedition. The stamps were in four denominations: half and two annaDakshin stamps: issued Gangotri, Antarctica. the first Indian cosmonaut-explorer to orbit anna, one anna, two annas and four annas. They by East India Company in 23 1854 for postage in India. the earth in a joint USSR-India manned space 6 FDC personally S.S. Hindostan, the British mail featured a youthful profile of Victoria— autographed by the crew of ship of P&O line on her maiden Queen of the United Kingdom mission under ‘Inter-Cosmos Programme’ on 3 29, 30 Union flag or the joint USSR-India space voyage from Southampton to of Great Britain, crowned Union Jack: 1801–to date. April 1984. Calcutta via Galle (Ceylon / Empress of India in 1877. All flight, 3–11 April 1984. Sri Lanka) in 1842, is depicted four values, considered to be By Yuri Malyshev, pilot- in illustrations 23 and 24. classics, were designed and printed cosmonaut, ship’s commander; The Indian stamp issued in in Calcutta. All were lithographed 29 Gennady Strekalov, pilot- 24 30 cosmonaut, flight engineer and 28 Rakesh Sharma, cosmonaut- 29 explorer.

7 The miniature sheet issued by the then USSR shows the ‘Cosmonauts aboard the 7 Salyut 7 space station’. 8 Malagasy commemorates the India-USSR Inter- 5 The Indian national flag flew into space as a Cosmos space flight in 1985. India gained admittance to the Antarctic Treaty on 19 August 1983 and medallion adorning the space suit worn by was given Consultative Status on 12 September 1983. India was inducted Rakesh Sharma during the Indo-Soviet joint as a member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) space flight. On 3 April 1984, when he was asked on 1 October 1984 and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic on air by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in 1986. Gandhi, to describe what India looked like from space, pat came his reply, ‘Main binaa jhijhak ke Indian flag in outer space keh sakta hoon, “Sare Jahan Se Achcha.”’ (I can say The Indian national flag was carried for the first time on the moon during without any hesitation, ‘It is the best in the Apollo 15 mission between 26 July–7 August 1971. Apollo 15 became the world.’)1 the ninth manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the fourth to land on the moon. Flags of all the United Nations member countries, each four by six inches in size, were carried on this mission and returned to earth.

Breakthroughs in space science and technology have become so common nowadays that astronautics has become an essential part of everyday life. 8 6 104 105 the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Embarrassing situations may occur if outdated or 2 Erroneous depiction of bearing their standard marks are used. erroneously depicted flags are displayed. The most the Asoka Chakra with ‘twelve spokes’ instead of the IS 1: 1968 Specification for the national serious and potentially diplomatically damaging stipulated ‘twenty-four spokes’ flag of India (cotton khadi), prescribes error occurs when a country’s flag is incorrectly of the Chakra. the design, constructional details and other hoisted. It is important that the national flag is particulars of the national flag of India. 2 flown the right side up; there is no greater insult 3 Flags of India, Tanzania The Standard was originally published in than flying a national flag upside down since it and Mexico displayed upside down on this Greek stamp 1951 by the Indian Standards Institution shows sheer ignorance and lack of respect. issued on 22 May 1989. (ISI). The colours of the flag, that is, India saffron (kesari), India green and navy blue, National Flag in mourning 4 St. Vincent and the shall correspond to the colours in the sealed The association of flags in funerals began Grenadines inadvertently placed the Indian flag upside down standard flag held in the custody of the Chief centuries ago when caskets of royalty were on the stamp issued in honour Inspector, Chief Inspectorate of Textiles & decorated with their symbols of authority. At times of Naik Yeshwant Ghagde, Clothing, Kanpur. Variations in shades of of mourning flags are draped over the coffins of recipient of the prestigious a colour should be avoided as these are not national heroes and other dignitaries. There are Victoria Cross Medal. generally discernible when a flag is flying. 3 specific rules to be observed for draping caskets 5 The last journey of Spectrophotometric values of the white, India during a funeral. According to the Flag Code of Mahatma Gandhi draped in saffron and India green colours in the flag presented to the Constituent India, 2002, ‘on occasions of State/Military/ the Indian national flag on a Assembly on 22 July 1947 were measured by the then Technical Central Paramilitary Forces funerals, the national gun carriage. Development Establishment Laboratory (Stores), Kanpur. It is intended flag is draped over the bier or coffin with the 6 Gandhi lying in state, the that the flags made to conform to BIS standards, should have colours saffron towards the head of the bier or coffin. The rising phoenix signifying the as similar as possible to the sealed standard flag. For the purpose of pall flag must be removed from the coffin before it continuation of his legacy by controlling production, sample pieces of bunting dyed with the standard is lowered into the grave or burnt in the pyre.’ Martin Luther King, colours may be obtained from the BIS. Jr. (issued in 1992). The origin of the custom of a flag at ‘half-mast’ to Flying more than one flag indicate mourning is yet to be established. But its The Flag Code stipulates that when two or more observance appears to date back to the sixteenth national flags are flown alongside or near each century, as a custom of the sea, which has spread other, then not only should they be at a similar to the land and became universal. Some believe height but of the same superficial area. The flag- 10 that the flag of mourning is flown at half-mast to masts shall also be of equal size. ‘International leave space for death’s invisible flag to be flown usage forbids the display of the flag of one above it. The term half-masting is a misnomer nation above that of another nation in time of as the flag is not flown literally midway between peace.’ The national flag is not to be flown from the top and the bottom of the flagstaff, but at a 5 a single mast-head simultaneously with any other distance down from the tuckhead equivalent to the flag or flags. There shall be separate mast-heads 11 measurement of the breadth of the flag normally 8 for different flags. The general practice is to flown. To achieve this position7 the flag should be fly the national flag from the most honourable first hoisted to the peak for thean instantday. A furtherand then sign of mourning is to attach black ribbons tied as a bow to position, that is, the extreme right with reference slowly lowered to the half-mastthe position.top of the It flag.should The Flag Code stipulates, to the direction it is facing. Flags of foreign 4 be raised again to the peak before it is lowered for 6 countries, where all are of equal status, shall If mourning were to be observed in a parade or procession, where a flag proceed as from the Indian flag in English 12 130 is carried, two streamers of black crepe shall be attached to the spearhead, alphabetical order. The Indian national flag must 131 allowing the streamers to fall naturally. The use of black crepe in such a be hoisted first and subsequently lowered last. manner shall only be by an order of the government. However, when the United Nation’s flag is flown The Flag Code further enumerates, along with the Indian or any other national flags, 13 it can be displayed on either side of the flags. Notwithstanding the above provisions, in the event of a ‘half-mast day’ The flag of the UN is flown all over the world 7 Mother Teresa was given coinciding with the Republic Day, Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi’s on 24 October which is the United Nations a state funeral to honour her Birthday, National Week (6 to 13 April, in memory of Jalianwala Bagh), Day, and in times of conflict by the UN Forces services to the poor and needy any other particular day of National rejoicing as may be specified by the and Observers. But no national flag flown in its in India. Government, the Flags shall not be flown at half-mast except over the vicinity could be in a higher position or have a 8 National flags are flown at building where the body of the deceased is lying until such time it has been larger superficial area. half-mast only by state order. removed and that Flag is raised to the full-mast position after the body has been removed. Display of flags over public 9 25th anniversary of buildings Indian Independence, a day As a rule, the Indian national flag is flown on of national rejoicing, when the national flag shall not be important public buildings. The flag is flown flown at half-mast. from sunrise to sunset irrespective of weather conditions. The flag may also be flown on 10, 11, 12 The important buildings at night subject to the display of the Indian national flag with flags of other nations. condition that the flagpole is really tall and the flag is kept well illuminated. The Flag Code states that, 13 UN flag with flags of 9 ‘In frontier areas, the national flag may be flown other nations.

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