As the nation prepares to celebrate another Independence Day, few Indians can name the man who designed the very symbol of their freedom — the Indian national flag. The tricolour, a powerful emblem of unity, courage, and peace, was designed by Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter, educator, and staunch Gandhian — yet his name remains unknown to many.
Born on August 2, 1876, in what is now Andhra Pradesh, Pingali Venkayya was a polymath — fluent in multiple languages and well-versed in geology, agriculture, and history. A devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he presented the first version of the flag to the Mahatma in 1921. The original design featured red and green stripes representing Hindu and Muslim communities. Later, white and the Ashoka Chakra were added to reflect inclusivity and progress.
The flag went through several iterations before the current form — saffron, white, and green with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra in the center — was officially adopted on July 22, 1947, by the Constituent Assembly, just weeks before independence.
Despite his pivotal role, Pingali Venkayya died in poverty and obscurity in 1963, with minimal recognition from the government or public. In recent years, there have been renewed efforts to honor his legacy, with his contributions being added to school curricula and calls for posthumous national honors.
As India marches forward, remembering the forgotten heroes like Venkayya is not just a tribute — it’s a necessity.
