Independence day 2018

                                        FUN FACTS ON INDIA

The annual Independence Day address by the Prime Minister on the ramparts of the Red Fort is a much-anticipated event since the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ushered in a free India with his iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech on 15 August 1947.

1. The British East India Company entered India as a trading company in 1600 to trade items such as tea, cotton, and silk. Gradually it went on to become a political ruler in the country.

2. The date ‘August 15’ was chosen by the Last Viceroy and first Governor General of India Lord Mountbatten as it was the same day in 1945 that Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces at the end of the World War II.

3. August 15 is celebrated as Independence Day in not only India but also in five other countries – Bahrain, North Korea, South Korea, Liechtenstein and Republic of Congo.

4. Mahatma Gandhi had plans of disbanding the Indian National Congress after the Independence of the country. A day before his death in a draft resolution he said that since the aim has been achieved, the INC has outlived its use. He wrote: “Though split into two, India having attained political independence through means devised by the Indian National Congress, the Congress in its present shape and form, i.e., as a propaganda vehicle and parliamentary machine, has outlived its use.”

5. We all know the fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India. But he was not always the first choice. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had the majority of votes but Nehru didn’t want to play second in command to anyone. Mahatma Gandhi had a soft spot for Nehru he requested Sardar Patel to step down.

6. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was considered as a global style icon. His popular ‘Nehru’ jacket earned him a place in Vogue magazine.

7. During Independence, India didn’t have any National Anthem. Jana Gana Mana’ was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 and was officially adopted in 1950.

8. On behalf of all the women of India, Free India’s Parliament was represented by Hansa Mehta.

      

9.Indian rupee in 1947 was Re 1 = $ 1. Currently, Rs 64.08 = $ 1.

8. By law, the only material to be used for making flag is ‘khadi’. Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission hold the right to manufacture the flag and allocates it to regional groups. Flying a flag made of any other material is punishable under law with three years imprisonment and a fine.

10. The first Indian flag was hoisted on August 7, 1906, at Parsi Bagan Square in Calcutta. The first flag showed religious symbols and had eight roses with Vande Mataram inscribed on it. The first version had three stripes of green, yellow and red colours in the same order.

11. The second Indian flag with partial modifications was hoisted by Madam Bhikaji Cama at the second Socialist International summit in Stuttgart, Germany. Madam Bhikaji Cama happens to be the first person to unfurl Indian National Flag on foreign soil.

12. A third, new type of flag was used by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1917. This flag had red and green strips with the Union Jack on the top left and a crescent on top right. This flag also had seven stars in the formation of the Saptrishi constellation.

      

13. In 1921, a new flag was designed. The new flag had white colour strip at the top representing the religious minorities, green colour strip in the middle representing Muslims, and red colour strip at the bottom representing Hindus. In the centre of the flag was a Spinning Wheel. This flag was according to the vision of Mahatma Gandhi.

14. Another version of the flag came into existence in 1921 which was adopted by the Congress committee. This flag had saffron colour at the top, white in the middle, and green colour at the bottom. in the middle of the white strip was a Spinning Wheel. Our present tricolour is a modification on this flag.

15. The Indian National Flag, in its present form, was designed by Pingali Venkayya who was an educationist and a freedom fighter from Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.

16. Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangh of Hubli has the sole manufacturing rights for the Indian Flag. The clothing used for the manufacturing of the national flag has to be Khadi. Using a flag made of any other material is a punishable offence with imprisonment of maximum 3 years.

17. Before 2002, normal citizens of India were not allowed to hoist the National Flag except on Independence Day and Republic Day. In 2002, Supreme Court of India amended the flag code and gave rights to all citizens to hoist the flag any time as per the flag code.

      

18. In the present National Flag, the saffron colour represents courage and sacrifice, white colour represents peace and green colour represents prosperity. In the middle of the white strip is Ashok Chakra which is blue in colour and has 24 spokes. It represents the cycle of life and continuity. The length to width ratio of the flag is 3:2.

19. As per the flag code, the flag must be hosted in the daytime and there should be no flag or any other symbolic representation above it. The flag must be hosted in the horizontal direction with the saffron colour on top.