Indian National Flag Before Freedom 1947: Swaraj Flag 1921

Indian National Flag Before Freedom 1947: Swaraj Flag 1921

Indian National Flag Before Freedom 1947: Swaraj Flag 1921

The red stripe was for Hindus and the green was for Muslims. The white band represented peace and the rest of the communities living in India. The spinning wheel represented the Gandhian ideal of self-help. The Swaraj flag was carried around during the protest marches, and it became a symbol of defiance.

Swaraj Flag (1921): Designed by Mahatma Gandhi, this flag was adopted by the Indian National Congress as its symbol. It was a horizontal tricolour of saffron, white and green, with a spinning wheel at the center. The colors had specific meanings: saffron for courage and sacrifice, white for purity and truth, and green for prosperity. The spinning wheel represented self-reliance and the economic upliftment of India’s poor.

Swaraj Flag’s colors! While the colors did resonate with religious communities, it’s important to note there’s a broader interpretation as well. Here’s a breakdown:

• Colors:
  • Red: Often associated with Hindus, it can also represent courage and sacrifice for the nation.
  • Green: While linked to Muslims, it can also signify prosperity and hope for the future of India.
  • White: Represents purity, truth, and unity between all communities in India.
• Spinning wheel: This powerful symbol embodied Gandhi’s philosophy of self-reliance (Swaraj) and the importance of promoting indigenous industries, particularly handloom weaving, to uplift the rural poor.

By combining these elements, the Swaraj Flag became a unifying symbol for the Indian independence movement, transcending religious divisions and promoting a vision of a self-sufficient and prosperous India.

It’s important to remember that historical interpretations can evolve. While the religious connection with the colors was certainly present, the broader message of unity and national identity remains significant.

National Identity Elements – National Flag – Know India 22 July 1947

The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of India saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle and India green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy-blue wheel with 24 equally spaced spokes which represents the Ashoka Chakra. The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947.

India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a kaleidoscopic variety and rich cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress since Independence. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.

https://knowindia.india.gov.in/national-identity-elements/national-flag.php