Pingali Venkaiah honoured with commemorative stamp

Pingali Venkaiah, the man who designed India’s national flag, was remembered when for the first time the Central Government issued a postal stamp in his memory, 88 years after he had presented the first version of the flag to Mahatma Gandhi.

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy released the stamp at a simple ceremony at the State Secretariat in the presence of the senior officials of Postal Department and the Pingali Venkaiah Memorial Trust.

The stamp, with photo of Pingali as well as the flag designed by him, is priced at Rs 5. The flag, designed by Pingali initially had only two colors Red and Green. Charka (spindle and string) in the middle was added later on the suggestion of Hansraj.

Pingali had presented this flag to Gandhiji at the Bezwada session of Indian National Congress Party and it was hoisted at all subsequent sessions after it was approved by the party.

Subsequently on suggestion of Gandhiji, white strip was also added to the flag making it tri color and Ashoka Chakra was brought in place of Charka as the national emblem.

Pingali Venkaiah, a resident of Masulipatanam had come up with the flag after researching on the flags of 30 countries over the period of five years, recalled Jagadamba, founder president of Pingali Venkaiah Memorial Trust.

“I am very happy to release the commemorative stamp”, said the Chief Minister who also unveiled a blow up picture of the stamp. Chief Post Master General Sundar Rajan was also present on the occasion.

Originally the stamp was to be released on August 2, marking the 132nd birth anniversary of Pingali Venkaiah, who worked as a railway guard before pursuing higher education and a becoming a agricultural researcher.

The trust has demanded that Bharat Ratna award should be bestowed upon Pingali Venkaiah in recognition to his contribution to the designing of national flag of India .

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