On this day, 100 years ago, first draft design of national flag was presented

Wednesday marks the centenary of the first-ever draft design of Indian national flag. It was on this day in 1921 that a young freedom fighter, Pingali Venkayya, presented the draft design of the flag to Mahatma Gandhi at the AICC session held at Bezwada (Vijayawada).
The All India Congress Committee held its two-day crucial session in Vijayawada on March 31 and April 1, 1921.Besides Mahatma Gandhi, several national leaders attended the event, which is often described as a turning point in the history of India’s freedom movement. Venkayya had presented the draft design of the Congress flag, which after a few changes was adopted as the national flag just before Independence in 1947.
The role played by Bezwada in the country’s Independence struggle was unparalleled and in recognition of the city’s contribution, it was among five places in the country selected for the installation of Gandhi stupa.
The draft design by Venkayya had two colours — green and red — with a spinning wheel or Gandhi Chakra. It was adopted as the Congress flag by replacing red with saffron and including white colour. The design of the Chakra was also changed. Later, Gandhi Chakra was replaced by Ashoka Chakra in the national flag when the design for the tricolour was finalised.
There were two events in Bezwada on March 31 and April 1, 1921. The AICC session was not a regular one. It was a special session. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) session was also held there. Venkayya met Gandhiji and presented the design on March 31. Gandhiji had called him to meet the next day. But the CWC session was hectic and a decision on the flag design could not be finalised.
However, Gandhiji took the design with him and in fact, acknowledged it in one of his editorials in Young India (April 13, 1921). “At Bezwada, I asked Mr Venkayya to give me a design containing a spinning wheel on red (Hindu colour) and green (Muslim colour) background. His enthusiastic spirit enabled me to possess a flag in three hours. It was just a little too late for presentation to the All India Congress Committee. I am glad it was so,” he wrote.
The Bezwada session decided to mobilise Rs 1 crore for Swaraj fund, take up one crore membership and distribute 20 lakh spinning wheels to give impetus to the freedom movement. The sessions were held at Victoria museum (Bapu museum) while the public meeting was held at Gymkhana ground. The area has since been named as Gandhinagar.
While the centenary calls for a big celebration, it has, ironically, not received the attention it deserves. There are no celebrations or big events planned for Wednesday. The only event that took place in the city was the release of a catalogue on the AICC session, published by AP Photography Akademi, on Tuesday.