The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the new Ensign (flag) of the Indian Navy in Kochi, marking the debut of India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
Understanding the Ensign
An Ensign is a national flag that adorns ships and aircraft. It often bears a distinctive insignia representing a branch or unit within the armed forces. The current Ensign of the Indian Navy showcases the Saint George’s Cross with the Tricolour in the canton, which is the top left corner of the flag.
The Need for Changing the Ensign
Several factors have led to a demand for a change in the naval ensign. A significant advocate for change was Vice Admiral VEC Barboza, who proposed the idea before retiring from his role as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.
Secondly, replacing the ensign signals an effort to move away from colonial history. The existing ensign is largely an extension of the pre-independence ensign used by the Indian Navy, which showcased the red George’s Cross against the backdrop of a white flag, with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom positioned in the top left corner.
Despite gaining independence on August 15, 1947, Indian defence forces continued using the British colonial flags and badges until January 26, 1950. This date marked a transition to an Indianised pattern. Changes were made to the Navy crest and flag, but the only variation introduced to the flag was replacing the Union Jack with the Tricolour, while retaining the George’s Cross.
History of Changes to the Naval Ensign
In 2001, the ensign underwent its first change. The George’s Cross was substituted with the naval crest in the middle of the white flag, while the Tricolour remained in the top left corner.
However, in 2004, the ensign reverted to the Red George’s Cross, following complaints that the new flag was unrecognizable because the Navy crest’s blue color blended with the sky and sea. The flag was then amended, with the red George’s Cross now containing the state emblem derived from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at its center.
In 2014, the inscription ‘Satyamev Jayate’ was added to the flag below the Ashoka emblem in the Devanagri script, marking another change in the ensign’s design.
About Saint George’s Cross
The Saint George’s Cross, characterized by a red cross on a white background is named after a Christian Warrior Saint who is believed to have been a crusader during the third crusade. This cross also serves as England’s flag and was adopted by England and the city of London in 1190 to identify English ships voyaging into the Mediterranean.
Several Commonwealth countries retained the Red George’s Cross at the time of their independence, but over time, many countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada, chose to remove it from their naval ensigns.
Sources: IE
Last Modified: February 18, 2024