During the 76th Independence day speech on completion of 75years of Indian independence, Prime Minister gave word to the people of our country to take 5 pledges (Panch Pran) which need to be fulfilled by 2047à to become a developed nation, remove all signs of servility, keep pride in our heritage, stay united from the divisive forces and fulfil our duties including chief ministers and prime minister. The St. George’s Cross named after crusading Christian Martyr by the Romans was adopted as England’s flag in 12th century, later became Royal Navy ensign in 1707.
Then the design was transferred with the blue ensign of the Star of India used as naval ensign for Her Majesty’s Indian Marine (1879-92). Later it was changed to Royal Indian Marine (1892-1934), then was upgraded to Royal Indian Navy ( 1934-50).
After India was declared Republic on 26th January 1950, the white ensign of the Royal Navy with the red saint George’s cross was retained. Though there was suggestions to change the postcolonial design of the flag since 1970s (by Vice admiral Vivian Barboza), change could not come until 2001 where the St. George cross was removed and replaced with blue coloured crest of the Indian Navy under the leadership of the then prime minister late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
But it was changed back with St. George cross and a state emblem of India at the intersection of the cross in 2004 by Shri Manmohan Singh the then prime minister. In 2014, Prime minister Shri Narendra Modiji further modified it by adding the Indian National Motto “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs) in the Devanagari script beneath the emblem.
The red cross has nothing in relation with Indian history. In 2022, on 2nd September, Prime minister Narendra Modiji unveiled the new ensign of Indian navy depicting the rich heritage of our country in naval maritime. On this very day, INS VIKRANT the first indigenously built aircraft carrier was commissioned. The new ensign has the national flap in the upper canton. There is an octagonal shape with twin golden borders which was drawn from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s shield who was the first to establish a naval force protecting the costal line.
The octagonal blue shape represents the eight directions indicating the Indian Navy’s multidirectional and multidimensional approach. In the centre of the shape there is the national emblem sitting on the top of an anchor with navy’s motto written “Sham No Varunah” meaning “may the lord of waters be auspicious on to us”. The anchor symbol emphasized on “steadfastness” (Fig.1 & 2). Already Australia, Newzealand, Canada, Pakistan, South africa and Bangladesh have bid adieu to colonial ensigns.
With the new naval ensign (NISHAAN), India ought to leave behind the signs of slavery, a new ensign projecting our heritage, nations motto was brought into practice.
