Even as the Independence Day nears and India paints herself in patriotic colours, the creator of Independent India’s flag is rarely remembered. August 2, 2017 marks the 141st birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and creator of the Indian flag.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had asked Venkayya to design a flag for India. The two had met when Venkayya enrolled with the British Army at the age of 19 and was sent to Africa for a war.
In March 1921, after five years of meticulous research, the idea was presented at a conference of the Indian National Congress in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
This flag design was adopted by the Congress in 1931, with a few modifications. On a saffron and green flag designed by Venkayya, Gandhi added a white stripe while Arya Samaj movement Founder Lala Hansraj added the Dharm Chakra (wheel of law). Saffron stood for courage, white for honesty, green for prosperity and the Ashok Chakra signified dharma and progress. The flag was proposed to be made the National Flag on July 22, 1947 at a meeting of the Constituent Assembly.
Born on August 2, 1876 in Bhatlapenumarru near Masulipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Venkayya held a doctorate in geology and set up an educational institute in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He also got many nicknames for his expertise and research in the areas of diamond mining and cotton varieties. While many freedom fighters are celebrated heroes, Venkayya lived in poverty and breathed his last in a hut in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh on July 4, 1963 without being honoured for his contributions.
A statue of Venkayya was unveiled in the All India Radio building in Vijaywada in 1998, while a postage stamp in his honour was released as late as the year 2009. In 2012, the government of Andhra Pradesh recommended his name for the Bharat Ratna. However, the next time when the award was given in 2014, it went to the most popular Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Scientist CNR Rao.
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