“Tricolor Triumph: Symbol of India’s Unity and Pride”

By Suvro Sanyal.

The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated 20^th. July, 2022 and clause (xi) of paragraph 2.2 of Part-II of the Flag Code of India was replaced by the following clause: –

“Where the Flag is displayed in open or displayed on the house of a member of public, it may be flown day and night;”

The Flag code also governs the protocol of flying the Flag and its use in conjunction with other National and Non-National Flags.

• The Flag should not be flown from a single masthead simultaneously with any other Flag or Flags.

• When the Flag is displayed on a speaker’s platform, it should be flown on the right side of the speaker facing the audience; or, flat against the wall, above and behind the speaker.

• No other Flag or bunting should be placed higher than, or, above, or, side by side with the National Flag; nor should any Emblem, Flower, or Garlands shall be placed on or above the Flag Mast from which the Flag is flown.

• The Flag should not be used as a festoon, rosette, or bunting or in any other manner for decoration.

• The Flag made of paper, should not be discarded or thrown on the ground after the same has been waived. As far as possible, it should be disposed off in private consistent with the dignity of the Flag.

• SALUTE – during the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the Flag, or, when the Flag is passing in a parade, all persons should face the Flag and stand at attention. Those present in uniform should render the appropriate SALUTE. When the Flag is in a moving column, persons present will stand in attention, or, SALUTE as the Flag passes them. A dignitary may take the SALUTE without a Head Dress.

The Flag Code was first issued by the Secretary-General on 19^th. December 1947, and the Flag Consolidated Regulations on 23^rd. July, 1949.

The Code and Regulations were amended on 11^th. November, 1952. The Regulations were further revised on 01^st. January, 1967 and the Code and Regulations were promulgated as Secretary-General’s bulletin ST/SGB/132.

The revised Flag Code, which consolidates the previously separate Flag Code and Flag Regulations into a single document, regulates the use of the Flag.

1. When used in connection with United Nations conferences taking place outside established headquarters and United Nations offices, the Flag shall be raised on the premises provided by the host Government for use by the United Nations for the holding of the United Nations conference, to indicate the handover of responsibility over the premises by the host country to the United Nations, and should remain raised until such time as the responsibility over the premises has reverted back to the host country.

2. Display of the Flag in bilateral meetings between United Nations officials and representatives of a State or another international organisation:

(a) When the United Nations Flag is displayed with the Flag of a State or another international organisation, all Flags should be displayed on the same level and should be of approximately equal size; and

(b) The position of honour for a Flag is to the right of the host when the host is facing the viewer or audience. Therefore, from the vantage point of the viewer or audience, the position of honour is the one to the left;

(c) In an official bilateral meeting between United Nations officials and representatives of a State or another international organisation hosted by the United Nations, the position of honour shall be given to the guest’s Flag (the position is illustrated in the diagram below):

(d) In an official bilateral meeting between United Nations officials and representatives of a State or another international organisation hosted by that State or international organisation, the position of honour should be given to the United Nations Flag.

(the position is illustrated in the diagram below):

Use of the United Nations Flag by separate administered funds, organs and programmes of the United Nations and organisations of the United Nations System –

• The United Nations Flag may be flown by separately administered funds, organs and programmes of the United Nations from their offices and other premises occupied by them, provided that they fly the Flag in accordance with the present Flag Code.

• When the Flag is to be displayed in a bilateral meeting between officials of an organisation of the United Nations system and representatives of a State or another international organisation and hosted by the organisation of the United Nations system, the position of honour shall be given to the guest’s Flag. The United Nations Flag shall be positioned in the centre of such a display of the Flags (the position is illustrated in the diagram below):

Flag ‘Unfurling’ and ‘Hoisting’: –

Unfurling the Flag – On the Republic Day i.e., on 26^th. January, the Honourable President of India, who is the head of state, ‘Unfurls’ the Tricolour”. The Flag is principally folded or rolled-up, and attached to the top of a pole. It is then unveiled (‘unfurled’) by the President, who does so without pulling it up.

‘Unfurling’ is a symbolic gesture to renew the commitment to principles laid down in the Constitution, highlighting India’s shift from being a British colony to a Sovereign, Democratic Republic.

The Flag Ceremony usually happens at 08:00 Hours at Kartavya Path (Formerly “Rajpath”), New Delhi. The Flag is tied as the bundle with flowers on top of the flagpole and is Unfurled by the President, followed by the National Anthem – Jana Gana Mana. The Republic Day celebration begins with numerous flypasts by the Indian forces.

Hoisting the Flag – On the auspicious Independence Day i.e., on 15^th. August, the Honourable Prime Minister who heads the Union Government, “Hoists” the Tricolour. the Flag, positioned at the bottom of the pole, is raised (‘hoisted’) by the Prime Minister, from the bottom to the top.

‘Hoisting,’ symbolises the rise of a new Nation; Patriotism, and Freedom, from the Colonial Rule.

It includes a ceremonial event with a military or civilian honour Guard, raising the Flag while the National Anthem is been played.

The celebration of Independence Day Ceremony & hoisting of National Flag at the Red Fort is solemnised by the Honourable Prime Minister exactly at 09.00 Hours.

All the respective State Capitals / District Headquarters / Sub-Division / Block / Gram Panchayat / Villages solemnises the August occasion after the completion of the formalities at Red Fort, Delhi.

However, as per protocol, the Flag Hoisting is to be completed within 09.20 Hours, unless and otherwise the Government deems fit a suitable time as per special case.

“We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.”

“We identify the flag with almost everything we hold dear on earth, peace, security, liberty, our family, our friends, our home… but when we look at our Flag and behold it emblazoned with all our rights, we must remember that it is equally a symbol of our duties. Every glory that we associate with it is the result of duty done.”

“Satyamev Jayate” – “Truth Always Wins”

Mavericknews30 has launched a series of article starting with History of Flags and featuring ” Know Your National Flag”, in anticipation of Independence Day on August 15th, Stay tuned for the next article!

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