Important Facts About Pingali Venkayya, Designer of the Indian National Flag

Pingali Venkayya was born on August 2, 1876, in Bhatlapenumarru, near Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

He was well-educated and had studied at Cambridge University. He was a scholar in geology and agriculture, and his academic pursuits took him to various parts of India and the world.

Venkayya was proficient in several languages, including Japanese, Urdu, and English.

He was a fervent patriot and took an active part in the Indian freedom movement. He met Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa and was inspired to contribute to the struggle for independence.

Venkayya designed several versions of the flag before the final version was adopted. His design was first presented to Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 at the Indian National Congress meeting in Bezwada (now Vijayawada).

The initial design of the flag included two colors, red and green, representing the two major communities in India. Gandhi suggested adding a white stripe in the middle, representing other communities, and a spinning wheel (charkha) to symbolize progress.

The final design of the flag, which was adopted as the national flag of India on July 22, 1947, included three horizontal stripes of saffron, white, and green, with the Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue in the center.

Apart from his contributions to the national flag, Venkayya was also an expert in geology and agriculture. He authored a book on these subjects and was known for his research and contributions to agricultural science.

Venkayya was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and contributed significantly to the promotion of Khadi and the Swadeshi movement.

In recent years, there have been efforts to honor Venkayya's contributions. The Indian government released a postage stamp in his honor in 2009, and his name is increasingly recognized in historical accounts of India's independence movement.