The need for a flag was felt for the first time after the partition of Bengal in 1905. People mourned the day together as a nation. A flag acted as an instrument of unity to come together for the independence of their homeland. During the long struggle against the British, the country's flag played a very pivotal role in uniting the people. Holding the flag high above their head, Indians braved the atrocities of the British with a sense of brotherhood and oneness.

The first flag was designed by Sister Nivedita, an Irish disciple of Swami Vivekananda. It was in red and yellow colour with the words 'Bonde Matoram'.This was the first Indian flag that is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in Kolkata at the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park). After this, another flag was designed in 1906 with three colour stripes blue, yellow, and red.

The design of the Indian tricolour is largely attributed to Pingali Venkayya, who in 1921 upon the suggestion of Gandhiji, made a flag that represented all religious communities of India with the colours red, white and green. Several changes continued to be made till a decade later when the tricolour was adopted with no religious interpretations with a charkha in the middle that symbolised the economic regeneration of India.

The tricolour was altered to become the flag of Independent India. Hansa Mehta, on behalf of the women of India, presented the National Flag to the Constituent Assembly of India. She stated in her speech, "We have donned the saffron colour, we have fought, suffered and sacrificed in the cause of our country's freedom. We have today attained our goal. In presenting this symbol of our freedom, we once more offer our services to the nation."

About the tricolour, the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi said, "A flag is a necessity for all nations. Millions have died for it. It is no doubt a kind of idolatry which would be a sin to destroy. For, a flag represents an ideal."

During the 1942 freedom struggle, the common Indians held demonstrations, picketing and processions in the public against the British Raj. They demanded complete independence and started hoisting the Indian National Flags in all British-owned buildings. The members of the “death squad” of Congress would always take the lead. This is because they were ready to give up their lives holding the Indian National Flag for their country.

On 20th September 1942, the squad decided to hoist the national flag in the local police station of Assam. Kanaklata Barua, a young teenager, was leading the procession holding the flag proudly. She told the officers (at the police station) to do their duty while she did hers. She faced bullet shots and ultimately died. But her zeal to march courageously to a police station to hoist the flag made her a martyr of the freedom struggle.

Emotions related to the flag created love for the motherland and brought the spirit of nationalism alive in the hearts of many Indians.

Saffron on top symbolises “strength and courage”, white in the middle represents “peace and truth” and green at the bottom stands for “fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land”. The Ashok Chakra with 24 spokes replaced the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. It is intended “to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation”.

The Indian National flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is the symbol of our national pride. The flag code lays down certain do's and don'ts to maintain the dignity of our flag. On this 75th year of our freedom, we wish that our flag stands tall, in its full glory, till the end of time.