Facts about the tricolour

I was having a wonderful lunch of Prawn chili fry, Coastal fish curry, dried prawn and tuna mango curry, rice and rasam. Great huh? As I was eating, I noticed a paper bag that was used to pack groceries. I undid the paper bag I saw it was the Sunday, August the14th 2004 edition of The Hindu.

The article under the section “Spotlight” has a heading that says: The Flag Town. It goes on to describe the place where the tricolour takes shape for the whole of India.

Excerpts of which I could read properly and are not exactly in order as in the original print nor are some of the words. I have adapted and abridged them as I couldn’t read some of them properly. The original ones are italicized.

The khadi unit which is part of the Hubli based Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS) which has been certified as the sole institution to supply national flags for the entire country by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and in conformation with the standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

A work force of just 16 of the required 60 cater to the needs of the country and only they are entitled to make the national flag for the country: right from the President to the embassies, to government offices and the common man. They are paid under 1500 Rupees per month.

The cloth has been carefully spun and woven by the KKGSS’ own units in Bagalkot. Next it is dyed in the required colours (the cloth is divided into three lots: one for each colour). The cloth is brought to the Hubli unit and cut into required shapes. The chakra is printed on the white cloth. Finally the three pieces are stitched together, then ironed and packed.

There are strict standards to be adhered to. First, there are nine standard sizes to which our flag is made (each with a special purpose for which only it may be used). The colours have to be of the exact shade specified by the KVIC and BIS. Both saffron and green have to be of the equal length and breadth. The length and width of the entire flag should be in the ratio 2:3. The charka should contain 24 equally spaced spokes. The charka should be printed on both sides; the position of both should be synchronized. There should a four-thread stitch in each centimeter of the cloth. The flag edge(for rod insertion) has stipulated dimensions. Any defects in the manufacture of flags, such as colour, size and thread count are considered a serious offence and are liable for fine or imprisonment or both as per the provisions of the Flag Code of India 2002. Only hand spun and handwoven cloth can be used for the National flag.

Today KKGSS churns out 5,000 flags per month and in six months time, plans to make it 5,000 per day. Since the recent Supreme Court order, which permitted private citizens too to fly the national tricolour, demand has increased.