Republic Of India
India. The land of colours and of dreams. The land of varied cultures and rich traditions. The land whose very name evokes visions of snow capped peaks, gushing rivers and fertile plains. Of the many things that reflect India's myriad moods are parched deserts and palm-fringed beaches, verdant fields and rugged mountain passes, cooling breezes and hot winds.
India's social complexity and diversity are legendary. The nation's population is the second largest in the world - an astounding mosaic of more than 860 million inhabitants! They live in 25 states and 7 Union Territories that stretch across a land the size of continental West Europe. Endless variety characterises this country where 15 recognised state languages are spoken, along with over a few hundred dialects and languages
The national flag is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue charkha or the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. The design of the national flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on July22, 1947. Its use and display are regulated by the Indian Flag Code.
The National Symbol is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Emperor Ashoka, who ruled from 272 BC to 232 BC. In the original pillar, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the Capital is crowned by the Wheel of Law (Dharma Chakra).
In the State Emblem adopted by the Government of India on January 26 1950, only three lions are visible, while the fourth is hidden from view. The wheel appears in relief in the centre of the abacus with a bull on right and a horse on left, and the outlines of the other wheels on the extreme right and left.
The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning 'Truth Alone Triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.
