Pingali Venkayya

Pingali Venkayya was an Indian freedom fighter and the person behind the design of the Indian National Flag. The tricolour pattern in our Flag was his idea to uphold the three pillars of Indian democracy- saffron symbolising strength, courage and sacrifice, white indicating peace and truth (Dharma Chakra- progress), and green symbolising growth, fertility, and auspiciousness. 

Though Pingali Venkayya’s contribution to the freedom struggle of India is rarely spoken of, if you are preparing for UPSC Prelims, you should know who Pingali Venkayya is and why he is remembered even today.

During the Indian independence movement, many freedom fighters sacrificed their blood and soul for the independence of our country. To read about the Important Indian Freedom Fighters and their contributions, candidates can check the linked article. 

Pingali Venkayya [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Life of Pingali Venkayya

Pingali Venkayya was born on 2nd August 1876 in Bhatlapenumarru village of Andhra Pradesh. His father’s name was Hanumantaraidu, and his mother’s name was Venkatratanama. The Pingali Venkayya family was a respectable Telugu Brahmin family.

He completed his high school studies from then Madras (now Chennai) and then moved to England to pursue his graduation from the University of Cambridge. As a student, he grew to be a polymath; he had a particular interest in geology, education, agriculture and languages. 

During his stay in South Africa at the time of the Anglo Boer war, Venkaya served as a British army soldier. It was in this period when he met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time, and formed a bond with him that lasted for more than 50 years. Venkayya was very loyal and highly committed towards Gandhi and a firm believer of Gandhian principles.

He married a beautiful woman named Rukminamma, and they had a daughter, Ghantasala Sitamahalakshmi. Venkayya spent his last days in poverty and died on 4th July 1963; according to his will, his last wish was to be covered in the tricolour national flag that he had designed.

The Story of Our National Flag

While serving in the British Army in South Africa, an incident left a mark on Venkayya’s mind. The soldiers were asked to salute the Union Jack, the British National Flag. Though Pingali saluted the Flag at that time, his patriotic sentiments were severely hurt, and he decided something had to be done. This incident, and Gandhi’s fight for India’s independence turned Venkayya into a freedom fighter. 

He was enthusiastic about flags, and after returning to India, he devoted his time to designing flags that could bind the entire nation as one, and be adopted as the National Flag of independent India. It would be a national flag for the country. 

In 1916, he published a booklet on flags. The booklet was titled ‘A National Flag for India.’ It contained twenty-four designs of flags. Later, when he met Gandhi in Vijayawada, he showed him the booklet. Gandhi was pleased to see the design and acknowledged the need for a national flag, so he asked Venkayya to design a fresh one at the National Congress Meeting, held in 1921.

Initially, Pingali Venkayya-designed the flag featured saffron and green colours only; however, later, it was redesigned, and the third colour, white, was introduced along with a spinning wheel (Dharma Chakra) at the centre. Finally, in 1931, the Indian National Congress officially adopted this flag as our nation’s Flag. 

Recognition Bestowed on Pingali Venkayya

To commemorate Pinagli’s contribution to the nation, a stamp was issued in his name, along with his picture in 2009. Moreover, in 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Government recommended his name for one of the most prestigious awards of India – Bharat Ratna.

In 2015, the All India Radio Vijayawada was renamed after Venkayya by M. Venkaiah Naidu (Urban Development Minister of that time). He also unveiled his statue on the premises of the radio station.

Public service examination candidates are advised to include these points in their UPSC notes. For further reading, they can look up archived editions of national newspapers, in which many stories on Venkayya have been published, time and again. 

Pingali Venkayya [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here