From time immemorial a flag symbolised the sovereignty and identity of a country, individual, clan or even religious set. Great heroes of mythology, epics and Puranas established their identity through flags with certain symbolic motifs and colours. Every dynasty carried its symbolic marks either on the forehead or tattooed on shoulders. Following the same tradition or practice the unified Bharat (Aikya Bharat) designed and adopted a National flag with three colours, Orange(saffron), white (samathwam or equality)& green (swathanthryam-freedom) signifying certain in depth meaning and ideals. The history of the evolution of our national flag is available in our history books and accessible through Google also. I am apprehensive about whether the present generation know or remember that Pingali Venkayya (AP) designed it with great significance attached to it.
Google tells us that “In the national flag of Bharat the top band(strip) is of Saffron or orange colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in colour and shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.”
During our childhood and in the thick of freedom movements the school curriculum instilled this valued information in us and inculcated lasting patriotism in our generation.
Additionally, I want to share what was drilled into our minds about the orange colour standing for Satyam(truth), white colour for “Samathwam”( equality) and green for “Swaathatryam” (freedom). The Dharma chakra (wheel of life’s philosophy with 24 spokes signifying the time cycle) adopted from Ashoka Pillar in ‘blue’ colour, making the flag ‘Chaturanga’ (four colour).
Like the emperor’s new clothes story, a 4th standard girl asked me once ,’why don’t we mention the existence of the blue colour in the middle- chakra in blue’. I have no answer to this to this day. Anyway we salute or bow to the flag in reverence and patriotic fervour. It is everyone’s responsibility to teach and discuss with our children this important aspect or information.
National Anthem:
Another important information shrouded in the mysteries of history is about our national anthem composed by Gurudev Rabindranatha Tagore, helped in tuning by Dr.Cousins (Principal of Madanapalle (AP) Theosophical College in the year 1911). This very meaningful song integrates the whole Bharatdesh. What we now sing is only a short version and a couple of more lines are almost forgotten. Generally on all Government official functions, the national anthem is played on a military western instrumental Band. Actually it is supposed to be sung in words verbally, at least along with the band music.. The military band plays the tune only and without understanding the words and the meaning, which to me makes no sense.
In our school days the National anthem was sung every evening before closing the classes. All functions including cinema houses played the national anthem and people used to stand till the song ended. That discipline seems to be lacking in today’s generation with no patience and tolerance.
We all know that our country’s original name is Bharat which literally means “the bhumi (land) that shines with Jnana and expels the ignorance of the world” . The name India was given by the invaders and is now stuck with us.
In the Hindi speaking belt, people refer to the name Bharat only, while in the southern part English name India seems to be more acceptable and used very liberally. Knowing very well that the name India cannot be a literal translation of the word Bharat, the media unfortunately always and profusely use the foreign word INDIA translating the Samskrit name BHARAT and these three syllables (Bha-ra-ta) has several meaningful connotations apart from the one I mentioned earlier. The present Sarkar must be complimented for their new projects being prefixed with the name Bharat which is a welcome feature accepted by majority of Bharateeyas, both north and south, slowly going towards a drastic change sooner or later. Earlier the better and this 75th republic day would be an appropriate occasion to, unequivocally declare the country as “THE SOVEREIGN REPUBLIC OF BHARAT” and make singing the National anthem a ritualistic practice among all generations to come.
“Vande Mataram !! Bharat mata ki jai !!!
