🇮🇳 PINGALI VENKAYYA
When we salute the Tricolour, we honour the sacrifices and dreams of countless freedom fighters. But do you know who designed this symbol of our unity and pride? It was a remarkable patriot named Pingali Venkayya.
🧒 Early Life
Pingali Venkayya was born on 2 August 1876 in a small village called Bhatlapenumarru, near Machilipatnam in present-day Andhra Pradesh. From a young age, he showed great interest in languages, science, and agriculture. He was a brilliant student and a true patriot.
🇮🇳 The Idea of a National Flag
During the British rule, India had no national flag of its own. Venkayya believed that a free country must have its own identity, and a flag was a powerful symbol of that identity.
In 1921, he met Mahatma Gandhi at a Congress session in Vijayawada and showed him a flag he had designed. Gandhiji was impressed by the idea and appreciated his effort.
🎨 The Original Design
The first flag designed by Venkayya had:
Red to represent Hindus
Green to represent Muslims
A spinning wheel (charkha) in the centre to represent self-reliance and the Swadeshi movement
Later, to include all religions and communities, the flag was modified:
White was added for peace and truth
Saffron (instead of red) symbolised courage and sacrifice
Green stood for faith and fertility
The Ashoka Chakra (wheel of law) replaced the spinning wheel
This design was adopted as the official flag of independent India on 22 July 1947.
🌾 A Man of Many Talents
Venkayya was not just a flag designer. He was:
A freedom fighter
A linguist who knew many languages
An agriculturist and geologist
A strong supporter of the Swadeshi movement
A devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi
🕊️ A Forgotten Hero
Despite his great contribution, Pingali Venkayya lived a simple and humble life. Sadly, he was not properly recognised during his lifetime and died in poverty on 4 July 1963.
However, in recent years, the nation has started to remember and honour him.
🏅 Honours and Recognition
In 2022, the Government of India released a postal stamp in his memory.
He was remembered with honour during the 75th Independence Day celebrations (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav).
He is now rightly known as the “Flag Man of India.”
🙏 Conclusion
Pingali Venkayya’s life reminds us that even one person can make a big difference. He gave us a symbol of unity, freedom, and pride that we hold close to our hearts. Every time we see the Tiranga flutter in the sky, we should remember the man who designed it—with love for his motherland.
