CM Bhajan Lal Sharma pays tribute to Pingali Venkayya on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma paid tribute to Pingali Venkayya on his birth anniversary, honouring the freedom fighter who designed the Indian tricolour presented to Gandhi in 1921 and adopted as the national flag in 1947.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma paid tribute to Pingali Venkayya on his birth anniversary on 2 August .
Venkayya designed the early tricolour flag and presented it to Mahatma Gandhi at the 1921 Congress session in Vijayawada .
The Constituent Assembly adopted the national flag on 22 July 1947 , building on Venkayya's original design.
CM Sharma described the Tiranga as a symbol of India's unity, integrity, and national identity.
The tribute comes ahead of Independence Day on 15 August , a period of heightened flag-related commemorations nationwide.
The man who gave India its flag was born on this day — and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma marked the occasion with a heartfelt tribute to Pingali Venkayya, the freedom fighter whose design became the soul of the nation.
Posting on 2 August, CM Sharma wrote in Hindi: 'भारतीय राष्ट्रध्वज तिरंगा के अभिकल्पक, महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी पिंगली वेंकैया जी की जयंती पर उन्हें शत-शत नमन!' ['A hundred salutes to the great freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya, designer of the Indian national flag, on his birth anniversary!']. He added that Venkayya's invaluable contribution to the Tiranga — the symbol of India's unity, integrity, and national identity — would continue to inspire every Indian toward patriotism and national service.
Who was Pingali Venkayya?
Venkayya was an agriculturist, polyglot, and ardent nationalist from Andhra Pradesh who presented an early tricolour design to Mahatma Gandhi at the 1921 Indian National Congress session in Vijayawada. His design — rooted in the colours representing different communities of India — became the conceptual foundation for what the Constituent Assembly formally adopted as the national flag on 22 July 1947, just weeks before independence.
A flag, a nation, and the days ahead
Venkayya's birth anniversary falls at a charged moment in the national calendar — sandwiched between the flag's adoption anniversary and Independence Day on 15 August. Across the country, political leaders from multiple parties routinely mark this day, reinforcing the Tiranga's role as a unifying symbol that transcends party lines. With Independence Day approaching, flag-related commemorations and state-level events are expected to intensify in the coming fortnight.
The Tiranga does not belong to any government or party — it belongs to every Indian. Venkayya's legacy is the reminder of that.
Point of View
Reflecting a bipartisan consensus around the Tiranga as a symbol of national unity. For CM Sharma, the post also serves a broader political function: anchoring the BJP's governance narrative in the language of patriotism and the independence movement. With Independence Day a fortnight away, such tributes are part of a deliberate seasonal cadence that frames the ruling party as custodian of national symbols. Venkayya's legacy — non-partisan by history — consistently transcends the political moment, which is precisely why every party reaches for it.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pingali Venkayya and why is he remembered?
Pingali Venkayya was an Indian freedom fighter who designed the early tricolour flag presented to Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. He is remembered as the principal inspiration behind India's national flag, adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947.
When is Pingali Venkayya's birth anniversary?
Pingali Venkayya's birth anniversary is observed on 2 August each year.
What did Bhajan Lal Sharma say about Pingali Venkayya?
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma paid tribute to Venkayya, calling the Tiranga a symbol of India's unity, integrity, and national identity, and said Venkayya's contribution would continue to inspire every Indian toward patriotism and national service.
What is the connection between Pingali Venkayya and the Indian national flag?
Venkayya presented a tricolour flag design to Mahatma Gandhi at the 1921 Congress session in Vijayawada. His design became the conceptual foundation for the national flag formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947.
Why do leaders pay tribute to Pingali Venkayya before Independence Day?
Venkayya's birth anniversary on 2 August falls in the lead-up to Independence Day on 15 August, making it a natural moment for leaders to invoke the Tiranga's history and reinforce themes of national unity and patriotism.
