Narendra Modi Unveils Indian Navy’s New Flag
PM Modi has unveiled the Indian Navy’s new ensign at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi on 2nd September 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Indian Navy’s new ensign (flag) in Kochi on 2nd September 2022, during the commissioning of India’s first made in India aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. PM Modi said, “Till today, Indian Naval flags carried a sign of slavery which has been replaced with a new one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.” The Tricolour is placed on the top left of the flag, and on the right is placed a blue octagonal shape that has the national emblem sitting atop an anchor. The octagonal shape has been designed to represent eight directions, symbolising the multi-directional reach of the Indian Navy. While the twin golden borders surrounding the octagon are said to draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji who was the one who started the modern Indian navy. The new naval ensign which the PM unveiled in Kochi replaces the flag that carried the Saint George’s Cross with the Tricolour in the top left corner.
This flag which was used earlier was essentially a successor to the pre-Independence ensign of the Indian Navy which had the red George’s Cross on a white background with the Union Jack (UK’s flag) on the top left corner. After Independence, on 15th August, 1947, the Indian defence forces continued with the British colonial flags and badges and it was only on 26th Jan 1950 that a changeover to Indianised pattern was made. The Navy flag was changed but the only difference made to the flag was that the Union Jack was replaced with the Tricolour, and the George’s Cross was retained. A change in the naval ensign was made in 2001 when the George’s Cross was replaced with the naval crest (navy logo) in the middle of the white flag while the Tricolour was kept in the same place on the top left corner. However, in 2004, the flag was again changed back to the Red George’s Cross as there were complaints that the new flag was not appropriate because the blue colour of the Navy crest merged with the blue colour of skies and the sea. A change was made in the flag and the red George’s Cross now had the national emblem in the middle of the red cross. In 2014, yet another change was made when the words ‘Satyamev Jayate’ were included on the flag below the Ashoka emblem in the Devanagari language.
However, many countries which were ruled by the UK continued the Red George’s Cross at time of their independence, but several have done away with it on their respective naval ensigns over the years. Prominent among them are Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The South African naval ensign has a green cross instead of the Red George’s Cross. Pakistan and Bangladesh have made changes to their respective naval flags. What do you think about this latest update in the Indian Naval flag? Do mention your thoughts in the comment section below.
