The National Emblem of India

                             An Emblem is an object or a representation that functions as a symbol.  A distinctive badge, design, or device. An allegorical picture usually inscribed with a verse or motto presenting a moral lesson. An object chosen to represent an idea, a quality, a country etc.
                       Our country India also has an Emblem which is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion, capital of Emperor Ashoka the Great, as preserved in the Sarnath Museum situated near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. 
                       Emperor Ashoka the Great erected the capital atop an Ashoka Pillar to mark the spot where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded. In the original there are four Asiatic lions, standing back to back, mounted on a circular abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening Dharmachakra or Ashoka Chakra wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. It was carved out of a single block of polished sandstone.
                       The Indian National Emblem, modeled on the Lion Capital, features 3 lions. The fourth lion is hidden from sight since it is positioned at the rear end, so is the bell-shaped lotus flower situated beneath. The frieze beneath the lions is shown with a wheel in the center, a bull on the right, a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right and left. The wheel at the centre of the abacus symbolizes the "Dharma Chakra.
                       The three lions, represent power, courage and confidence, and rest on a circular abacus girded by four smaller animals that are separated by intervening wheels. These four animals are the guardians of the four directions: 

• The lion of the north, 
• The elephant of the east, 
• The horse of the south and 
• The bull of the west. 

                       The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, instancing the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. 

                       Inscribed below the emblem in Devnagri script is the motto 'Satyameva Jayate' meaning "Truth Alone Triumphs". It is a quote from the Mundaka Upanishad, the concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas.

                       The Lion Pillar was adopted as the National Emblem of India on 26 January 1950, the day India became a republic.

                       The National emblem is used only for official purposes and commands the highest respect and loyalty. It is the official seal of the President of India and Central and State Governments. It forms a part of the official letterhead of the Government of India. 

                       It also appears prominently on all Indian currency as well as on the diplomatic and national Passport of the Republic of India. 

                       The wheel on it, known as "Dharma Chakra" or popularly "Ashoka Chakra", has even been placed onto the center of the modern National Flag of India. 

                       the national emblem of India stands as a symbol of modern India's reassertion of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill. To the 1 billion Indians, it serves as an inspiration and is a matter of pride. To the world, it stands as glowing symbol of independent India's identity and sovereignty.


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The National Flag of India.

The National Flag of India.

                                 Every free nation of the world has its own flag. It is a symbol of a free country. The National Flag of India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand and adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British on 15 August, 1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour" refers to the Indian national flag.
                         In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in colour shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.The three bands of colors are in equal proportions. While in the center of the white band is a wheel in navy blue.
                               This wheel is an adaptation from the sculpted wheel, called Chakra, the wheel of law, appearing on the abacus of Sarnath Capital of Asoka, the ancient Indian emperor. It has 24 spokes and the diameter approximates the width of the white band. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.   

                              With all these things the width and length of the Tricolor is supposed to be in the proportion of 2:3 .                                                                      
                        The flag was designed as a symbol of freedom. Its use and display are, however, regulated by a code.
                              On 26th January 2002, the Indian flag code was modified and after several years of independence, the citizens of India were finally allowed to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day and not just National days as was the case earlier. Now Indians can proudly display the national flag any where and any time, as long as the provisions of the Flag Code are strictly followed to avoid any disrespect to the tricolour. 
                              For the sake of convenience, Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into three parts. 
                              Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag. 
                              Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc. 
                             Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their organisations and agencies.  
                             There are certain dos and don'ts laid down for common people regarding Indian flag.

• When the National Flag is raised the saffron color band should be at the top.
• No flag or emblem should be placed either above the National Flag or to its right.
• All other flags to be placed to the left of the National Flag if they are hung in a line.
• When the National Flag is carried in a procession or parade, it shall be on the marching right or in front of the center of the line, if there is a line of other flags.
• Normally the National Flag should be flown over important government buildings like the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Parliament House, the Supreme Court of India, the High Courts, the Secretariats, the Commissioners' office etc.
• The National Flag or any imitation of it must not be used for purpose of trade, business, or profession.
• The National Flag should always be taken down in the evening at sunset.

                               

The Do's:

• A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag.
• Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises.

The Don'ts

• The flag cannot be used for communal gains, drapery, or clothes. As far as possible, it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather.
• The flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. It cannot be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft.
• No other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag. Also, no object, including flowers or garlands or emblems can be placed on or above the flag. The tricolour cannot be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting.

  
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The National Emblem of India

Always say I am an Indian.

                  An American visited India and went back to America where he met his Indian friend who asked him...
                   "How did you find my Country?"
                    The American said,"It is a great country with solid ancient history and immensely rich with natural resources."
                    The Indian friend then asked,"How did you find Indians?"
                   "Indians?"
                   "Who Indians? I didn't find or met a single Indian there in India."
                   "What nonsense? Who else could you meet in India then?"
                   The American said,"In Kashmir, I met a Kashmiri , In Punjab, a Punjabi. 
                   In Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
                   A Bihari, Marathi, Marwadi, Bengali, Tamil, Malayali.

                   Then I met, A Hindu, A Muslim, A Christian, A Jain, A Buddhist.

                   And many, many, many more But not a single Indian did I meet."
                  Now, think how serious this joke is...
                  The day would not be far off when indeed we would become a collection of nation states as some regional anti-national politicians want...
                 Fight back.... 
                 Always say I am an Indian.

                 Jai Hind.

Lt. Saurabh Kalia-A Brave soldier.

                      Recently I received a forwarded e-mail from one of my friend which deeply touched my heart.  In this e-mail a father had described what had happened to his son who was a brave soldier, and had died in Kargil war. Further the writer had requested to forward this e-mail to as many people as we can and not to break the onward movement of this mail. I thought it would be a better idea if I write it on my Blog, so more and more people know about this incident. So here's the e-mail, read it for yourself.....

Dear Sir/Madam

SPARE 5-MINUTES from ur busy schedule .PLEASE !!!

Lt. Saurabh Kalia of 4 JAT Regiment of the Indian Army laid down his life at the young age of 22 for the nation while guarding the frontiers at Kargil.His parents, indeed the Indian Army and nation itself, lost a dedicated, honest and brave son.He was the first officer to detect and inform about Pakistani intrusion. Pakistan captured him and his patrol party of 5 brave men alive on May 15, 1999 from the Indian side of LOC. They were kept in captivity for three weeks and subjected to unprecedented brutal torture, evident from their bodies handed over by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999.The Pakistanis indulged in dastardly acts of inflicting burns on these Indian officers with cigarettes, piercing their ears with hot rods, removing their eyes before puncturing them and breaking most of the bones and teeth. They even chopped off various limbs and private organs of the Indian soldiers besides inflicting unimaginable physical and mental torture. 
After 22 days of torture, the brave soldiers were ultimately shot dead. A detailed post-mortem report is with the Indian Army. Pakistan dared to humiliate India this way flouting all international norms.They proved the extent to which they can degrade humanity. However, the Indian soldiers did not break while undergoing all this unimaginable barbarism, which speaks volumes of their patriotism, grit, determination, tenacity and valour - something all of India should be proud of. Sacrificing oneself for the nation is an honour every soldier would be proud of, but no parent, army or nation can accept what happened to these brave sons of India . I am afraid every parent may think twice to send their child in the armed forces if we all fall short of our duty in safeguarding the PRISONERS OF WAR AND LET THEM MEET THE FATE OF LT.SAURABH KALIA. It may also send a demoralizing signal to the army personnel fighting for the Nation that our POWs in Pak cannot be taken care of. It is a matter of shame and disgust that most of Indian Human Rights Organisations by and large, showed apathy in this matter.Through this humble submission, may I appeal to all the civilized people irrespective of colour, caste, region, religion and political lineage to stir their conscience and rise to take this as a NATIONAL ISSUE !!! International Human Rights Organizations must be approached to expose and pressure Pakistan to identify, book and punish all those who perpetrated this heinous crime to our men in uniform. If Pakistan is allowed to go unpunished in this case, we can only imagine the consequences. Below is the list of 5 other soldiers who preferred to die for the country rather than open their mouths in front of enemy, 
1. Sep. Arjun Ram s/o Sh. Chokka Ram; Village & PO.Gudi. Teh. & Dist.Nagaur, (Rajasthan)
2. Sep. Bhanwar Lal Bagaria h/o Smt. Santosh Devi;Village Sivelara;Teh.&Dist.Sikar (Rajasthan) 3. Sep. Bhikaram h/o Smt. Bhawri Devi; Village Patasar; Teh.Pachpatva;Distt.Barmer (Rajasthan)
4. Sep. Moola Ram h/o Smt. Rameshwari Devi; Village Katori; Teh. Jayal;Dist.Nagaur(Rajasthan)
5. Sep. Naresh Singh h/o Smt. Kalpana Devi; Village Chhoti Tallam;Teh.Iglab; Dist.Aligarh (UP)


Yours truly,
Dr. N.K. Kalia (Lt. Saurabh Kalia's father). Saurabh Nagar,Palampur-176061 Himachal Pradesh Tel: +91 (01894) 32065