The National Flag of India is a horizontal rectangular tricolor of India saffron, white and India green; with
the Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue at its center. By law, the flag is to be made of khadi, a
special type of hand-spun cloth or silk.
According to the Flag code of India, the Indian flag has a
ratio of two by three (where the length of the flag is 1.5
times that of the width). All three stripes of the flag (saffron,
white and green) are to be equal in width and length. The
size of the Ashoka Chakra is not specified in the Flag code,
but it has twenty-four spokes that are evenly spaced
In the national flag of India, the top band is of Saffron color,
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 color shows the fertility,
growth and auspiciousness of the land.
National animal of India is the Royal Bengal Tiger. Majestic and lethal at the same time, these are one of
the most graceful carnivores among the Indian fauna. The Royal Bengal tiger is the symbol of strength,
agility and grace, a combination that is unmatched by any other animal. It is representative of all these
qualities as the national animal of India. It is the largest of the four big cats under the genus Panthera
(Lion, Tiger, Jaguars and Leopards). The Royal Bengal Tiger is among the eight varieties of tigers found in
India.
Common Name: Royal Bengal Tiger
Scientific Name: Panthera tigris tigris
Adopted in: 1972
Found in: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
Habitat: Grasslands, forests, mangrove vegetation
Eating Habits: Carnivorous
Average weight: Male – 220 Kg; Female – 140 Kg
Average Length: Male – upto 3 m; Female - upto 2.6 m
Average Lifespan: 8-10 years in wild
Average Speed: 60km/h
Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN Red List)
Current number: 2500 in 2016
National Anthem of India
The National Anthem of India is entitled ‘Jana Gana Mana’. The song was originally composed in Bengali
by India’s first Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on December 11, 1911. The parent song, ‘Bharoto
Bhagyo Bidhata’ is a
Brahmo hymn which has
five verses and only the
first verse has been
adopted
as
National
Anthem. If put forwards
succinctly, the National
Anthem conveys the spirit
of pluralism or in more
popular term the concept
of ‘Unity in Diversity’,
which lies at the core of
India’s cultural heritage.
Title: Jana Gana Mana
Music by: Rabindranath Tagore
Lyrics by: Rabindranath Tagore
Raga: Alhiya Bilawal
Written on: December 11, 1911
First sung on: December 27, 1911
Declared as National Anthem on: January 24, 1950
Time to play: 52 seconds
Underlying message: Pluralism/Unity in Diversity
National Bird
National bird of India is the Indian Peafowl
commonly termed as a Peacock. Vividly
colorful and exuding oodles of grace, the Indian
Peafowl commands a lot of attention. The
peacock and its colors are synonymous with
Indian identity. It is indigenous to India and Sri
Lanka, but now features in countries all over
the world. Peacocks are sometimes
domesticated and kept in the garden for
aesthetic purposes.
Common Name: Indian Peafoul
Scientific Name: Pavo cristatus
Adopted in: 1963
Found in: Indigenous to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka but has been introduced all over
the world
Habitat: Grasslands, forests, near human habitats
Eating Habits: Omnivorous
Average weight: Male – 5 Kg; Female – 3.5 Kg
Average Length: Male – 1.95 to 2.25 m; Female -upto0.95 m
Average Wingspan: 1.8 m
Average Lifespan: 15-20 years in wild
Average Speed:13 km/h
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
National Flower
The
Lotus
symbolizes
spirituality,
fruitfulness, wealth, knowledge and
illumination. The most important thing
about lotus is that even after growing in
murky water it is untouched by its impurity.
On the other hand the lotus symbolizes
purity of heart and mind. The National
Flower 'Lotus' or water lily is an aquatic
plant of Nymphaea species with broad
floating leaves and bright aromatic flowers
that grow only in shallow waters. The leaves
and flowers of the Lotus float and have long
stems that contain air spaces in them. The
lotus flowers have many petals overlapping in a proportional pattern. The root functions of lotus are
carried out by rhizomes that fan out horizontally through the mud below the water. Lotuses, cherished
for their tranquil beauty, are delightful to take a look at as their blossoms open on the pond's surface.
Name: Indian Lotus, Kamal, Padma, Sacred Lotus
Scientific Name: Nelumbo nucifera
Adopted in: 1950
Found in: Native to South Eastern Asian countries; cultivated in Australia, Europe, Japan and America.
Habitat: Stationary water bodies like ponds, lakes and artificial pools.
Average Dimensions: 1.5 cm long; horizontal spread of 3 m
Average Diameter: Leaves – 0.6 m; flowers – 0.2 m
Average Number of Petals: 30
.
Mahatma Gandhiji is revered in India as the Father of the Nation. Much before the Constitution of Free
India conferred the title of the Father of the Nation upon the Mahatma, it was Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose who first addressed him as such in his condolence message to the Mahatma on the demise of
Kasturba.
Ba and Bapu had been interned at Aga Khan Palace, Pune in the wake
of the Quit India Movement. It was while serving the prison term
Kasturba passed away on 22 February, 1944.
Concerned about Gandhiji, Netaji sent the following message to the
Mahatma on Azad Hind Radio, Rangoon on 4th June, 1944.
"...........Nobody would be more happy than ourselves if by any chance
our countrymen at home should succeed in liberating themselves
through their own efforts or by any chance, the British Government
accepts your `Quit India' resolution and gives effect to it. We are,
however proceeding on the assumption that neither of the above is
possible and that a struggle is inevitable.
Father of our Nation in this holy war for India's liberation, we ask for
your blessings and good wishes".
The above message also proves beyond any doubt Netaji's 'reverence and warm feelings towards Gandhiji
whom he had addressed as The Father of the Nation'