Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, alongside senior Union Ministers and Chief Ministers, on Sunday, 2 August paid solemn tribute to Pingali Venkayya, the freedom fighter who conceptualised the design of India's national flag, on his birth anniversary. The nationwide remembrance drew leaders across government, with Radhakrishnan hailing Venkayya as the 'architect of India's National Flag' whose contribution left an 'indelible mark on the nation's history'.

Vice President Leads the Tributes

In a post on X, Vice President Radhakrishnan described Venkayya as 'an eminent freedom fighter, a true Gandhian and the architect of India's National Flag.' He wrote: 'Humble tributes to Shri Pingali Venkayya Ji on his birth anniversary. As the Tricolour continues to unite every Indian with pride, we remember his selfless service and enduring legacy with deep respect.'

What Senior Ministers Said

Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute on X, noting Venkayya's 'immortal contribution' to designing the Tiranga, calling it a 'symbol of our pride and aspirations.' Shah added that Venkayya's 'role in the independence movement and development of different streams of knowledge will always inspire Indians.'

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Venkayya as a 'distinguished scholar and polyglot' who 'dedicated his life to the service of the nation.' In his post on X, Singh highlighted Venkayya's contributions to 'India's freedom struggle, education, and agricultural research' as reflecting an 'unwavering commitment to nation-building.'

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also referred to Venkayya as the 'architect' of the Tricolour, writing that Venkayya 'gave shape to the form of the national flag, thereby providing India's national identity with a new recognition.' Nadda added that Venkayya's life, which 'wove the nation into this unbreakable thread,' would 'forever remain memorable.'

BJP Chief and Chief Ministers Join In

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin said Venkayya's life and contributions would 'forever remain a source of inspiration and guidance for generations to come,' and that by giving form to the Tricolour, Venkayya 'bestowed new dignity upon India's national identity.'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wrote on X: 'May our Tricolour, a symbol of your farsightedness and patriotism, continue to instil the spirit of One India-Excellent India in the heart of every Indian.' Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Venkayya's 'inspiring life, imbued with patriotism and dedication, will forever continue to motivate every Indian towards selfless service to the nation.'

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also paid tribute, writing that Venkayya's 'unparalleled creation has woven India's diversity into the fabric of a national spirit,' and that the Tricolour today stands as a 'living emblem of the resolve, values, and devotion to the motherland of 140 crore fellow citizens.'

Who Was Pingali Venkayya

Pingali Venkayya was a freedom fighter, scholar, and agriculturist who is credited with designing the flag that became the precursor to India's national flag. He presented his design to Mahatma Gandhi in the early 1920s, and his work eventually informed the Tricolour adopted at independence. Despite his central role in shaping India's most recognisable national symbol, Venkayya spent much of his later life in relative obscurity — a contrast that critics have long noted. His birth anniversary has in recent years become an occasion for national reflection on the flag's origins and the freedom movement's broader legacy.