National Insignia

NATIONAL INSIGNIA:

National Flag:

The national flag was adopted by the constituent assembly of India on July 22, 1947, and presented to the nation at the midnight session of the Assembly on August 14, 1947, on behalf of the women of India. The flag was unfurled on Parliament House. The tricolour flag was first born in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting at Bezwada in 1912, when a flag was shown by an Andhra youth and improved by Mahatma Gandhi with the addition of a white band and chakra. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3. All the three bands are of equal width with  saffron at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom. Wheel (chakra) In the centre of the white band is a wheel in navy blue colour. The design of the wheel is that of the abacus of the Srinath Lion Capital. Its diameter approximates the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.The wheel symbolizes India’s ancient culture, dynamism and peaceful change, and is adopted from the Dharma Chakra of Emperor Ashoka.

Significance of Colours:

(i) Saffron: Signifies courage and sacrifice

(ii) White: Signifies truth and peace

(iii) Green: Signifies faith and chivalry

National Emblem:

The national emblem and seal of the Government of India is a replica of the Capital of Ashoka’s Pillar at Sarnath. In the original capital of the stone pillar four lions are carved outstanding back to back. In the emblem, however, only three lions are visible as it appears in print, the fourth one remains hidden from the view. The capital is mounted on an abacus (base plate). There is a dharma chakra in the centre of the base plate, on the right of which is a figure of a bull and on the left that of a horse. There is an inscription in Devanagari script, a quotation from the Mundak Upanishad below the base plate which reads 'Satya Meva Jayate', which means 'Truth alone triumphs'. The original lioned Capital of the Ashoka Pillars was designed between 242 and 232 bc to hallow the spot where Buddha first initiated his disciples into the eightfold salvation. The national emblem was adopted by the Government of India on January 26, 1950.

National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana):

Composer : Rabindranath Tagore in 1911

First Sung : Decembar 27, 1911, during the Indian National Congress Session at Kolkata

When Adopted : January 24, 1950, by the constituent assembly of India.

English Translation : Rendered by Tagore himself in 1919, under the title 'Morning Song of India'.

It was originally composed in Bengali language and first published in January 1912, under the title 'Bharat Vidhata' in Tatva-Bodhini Patrika edited by Tagore himself. The complete song consists of five stanzas. Playing Time about 52 seconds for the full version.

National Song (Vande Mataram):

National Song was first composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. It was first sung in 1886 at the session of Indian National Congress. The National Song was taken from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Ananda Math published in 1882.On January 24, 1950, along with the national anthem, the National song was adopted.

National Calendar (Saka):

From March 22, 1957 a unified Indian national calendar to be used for official purposes was introduced based on the Saka era which began with vernal equinox of ad 78. Chaitra is the first month and Phalguna is the last month of the Saka year.

National Animal:

Since November 1972, the tiger (Panthera tigris) has been adopted as the national animal. To check the dwindling tiger population in India, ‘Project Tiger’ was launched in April 1973. Recently,there are 27 tiger reserves in India spread in an area of 3776 kmpersquare.

National Flower, National Tree and National Fruit:

Lotus is the National flower of India. It is an auspicious symbol of Indian culture. The banyan tree is the National tree of India. It has the widest reaching roots of all known trees, easily covering several acres. Mango is the National fruit.