On 22nd July 1947, at the Constituent Assembly on the subject Resolution Re National Flag, Pandit Nehru [United Provinces General] spoke as follows;
Mr. President, it is a proud privilege to move the following Resolution;
“Resolved that the National Flag India shall be horizontal, tri colour of deep Saffron [Kesari], White and dark Green in equal proportion. In the Centre White band there shall be a Wheel in Navy Blue to represent the Charka – the design of the Wheel shall be that of the Wheel [Chakra] which appears on the abacus of the Saranath Lion Capital of Ashoka. The diameter of the Wheel shall approximate to the width of the White band, the ratio of the width to the length of the Flag, ordinarily be 2:3. This Resolution Sir, in simple language in a slightly technical language and there is no glow or warmth in the words that I have read. Yes, I am sure that many in this House will feel the glow and warmth which I feel at the present moment—-
Many who are not present today, many of our Comrades who have passed held on to this Flag amongst them even unto death and handed it over as they sank to others to hold it aloft— there is the struggle of the people of freedom with all its ups and downs and trials and disasters and there is finally today as I move this Resolution a certain triumph about it – a measure of triumph in the conclusion of the struggle— So I present this Flag to you. This Resolution defines the Flag which I trust you will adopt in a sense this Flag was adopted not by a formal Resolution but by popular acclaim and usage adopted much more by the sacrifice that surrounded it in the past few decades— But I may say that then this Flag was devised there was no communal significance attached to it— The colours are the same deep Saffron, a White and a dark Green in the white previously there was a Charka which symbolized the common in India, which symbolized the masses of the people, which symbolized their industry and which came to us from the message which Mahatma Gandhi delivered [cheers] now that particular Charka symbol has been slightly varied in this Flag not taken at all – why then has this wheel varied normally speaking the symbol on one side of the Flag should be exactly the same as on the other side, otherwise, there is a difficulty which goes against the rules. Now the Charka as it appeared previously on this Flag and the Wheel on one side and the spindle on the other if you see the other side of the Flag, the spindle comes the other way and the wheel comes this way, if it does not do so which is not proportionate because the wheel must be towards the pole and not forward the end of the Flag. This was the practical difficulty therefore after considerable thought we were of course convinced that this Great Symbol which had enthused people shall continue and that it should in a slightly different form that the when should be there not the rest of Charka i.e. the spindle and the string which created this confusion that the essential part of the Charka should be there i.e. the wheel. So the old tradition continue in regard to Charka and the Wheel but what type of Wheel should we have in our minds went back to many wheels but notably one famous Wheel which appeared in many places which all of us have seen one at the top of the Capital of Ashoka; and in many other places. That Wheel is Symbol of India’s ancient culture, it is a symbol of many things that India has stood for through the ages so we thought that this Chakra Emblem should be there and Wheel appear. For my part, I am exceedingly happy that in this sense indirectly we have associated with this Flag of ours not only this Emblem but in a sense – the name of Ashoka, one of the most magnificent name not only in India’s History but in the World History it is well that at this moment of strike, conflict and intolerance our minds should go back towards what India stood for in the Ancient days.“
Comment: It is clear that Pandit Nehru wanted Gandhi’s Wheel on the Flag but it was dropped and changed on a minor ground – the wheel looks differently from the other side. I feel that the Charka of Gandhi should be retained and should not have been disturbed by the flutter of wind. I hope that the original symbol may be restored.