Who Designed The First Indian National Flag?

Lakhs of people gave their lives to make India free from British rule and people are familiar with freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Subash Chandra Bose.

However, not many are aware of the individual responsible for designing our cherished National Flag that makes our hearts swell with pride when we witness the raising of our beloved Tricolour. Unfortunately, his life and contribution to the freedom struggle have barely been documented.

Who Was Pingali Venkayya?
Born on August 2, 1876, in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, Venkayya had a remarkable journey. He served as a soldier in the British Army during the Anglo-Boer war in South Africa, where his strong belief in Gandhian principles and unwavering nationalism brought him face-to-face with the great Mahatma Gandhi. This fateful encounter, when Venkayya was just 19 years old, marked the beginning of a profound association that would span over five decades.

Later, in Vijayawada, Venkayya presented Gandhi with his publication containing various flag designs, highlighting the necessity of a national flag for India. Recognizing the significance of this symbol, Gandhi entrusted Venkayya with the task of designing a fresh flag during the national congress meeting in 1921.

Initially, Venkayya proposed a flag with saffron and green colours, but it underwent further development, incorporating a spinning wheel at the center and introducing a third colour, white. This design was officially adopted by the Indian National Congress in 1931, becoming the revered National Flag of India.

Facts About Pingali Venkayya Venkayya

He was popularly known by two names-- Diamond Venkayya (for his expertise in diamond mining) and Cotton Venkayya (for his keen interest in various varieties of cotton research).

He was a multi-lingual, with a doctorate in Geology. He had also established an institute in Machilipatnam.

Despite being the designer of the National Flag and actively participating in the freedom movement, Venkayya passed away in acute poverty inside a hut in Vijayawada on July 4, 1963. It is accused that society and the grand old party did not give his due respect to him.

In 2009, a stamp was also issued to commemorate him, and the Andhra Pradesh government recommended his name for the Bharat Ratna in 2014.

In 2015, the then Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu renamed the AIR Vijayawada after Venkayya and unveiled his statue on its premises.