Friday, March 29, 2024

Jagan’s gesture on India’s 75th year of independence would warm all Indians

YS Jaganmohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh has made a heart-warming gesture in the 75th year of India’s independence, choosing to honour the daughter of the man who gave India its tricolour flag. 

Chief minister Jaganmohan Reddy flew down to a PWD Colony in Macherla town, Guntur on Friday and paid his respect to Seeta Mahalakshmi, 99, daughter of Pingali Venkayya (August 2, 1876-July 4, 1963), who gave over a billion Indians the tricolour which makes soldiers protect it with their lives at borders—and an average Indian to salute it with pride; tears brimming in eyes. 

The occasion was the launch of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav, to commemorate India’s 75 independent years, launched by prime minister Narendra Modi, including a re-run of Dandi March, involving not just Gujarat but all the States of the country. 

Reddy presented Mahalakshmi with Rs 75 lakhs, possibly the biggest sum which has ever come the way of any freedom fighter or their families. It contrasts starkly with the fact that Pingali himself died in penury in 1963, in a little hut in Vijaywada. 

Pingali (image above) had met with Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa, both doing their bit for the British Empire in the Boer War (1899-1902). Pingali served the army while Gandhi earned his stripes having supervised an ambulance corps which rendered yeoman service to the injured and wounded. It was an association which was to last for almost 50 years.

PIngali’s life was a storied tale of mind-boggling achievements. He was a polyglot who could speak in Sanskrit, Urdu and Japanese, once giving a speech to Japanese in their own language that made him be known as “Japan Venkaiah.”

In the 1906 session of Indian National Congress, he impressed everyone to be appointed in the executive committee. He used to get upset to see the British Union Jack flutter and decided to do his bit for course-correction. In 1916, he published a book title “A National Flag for India” which carried 30 designs of the flag. Between 1918 and 1921, in every session of the Congress, he raised the issue of having a flag of its own. 

In 1921, in Vijaywada, Pingali met Mahatma Gandhi and showed him his various designs of the flag. Gandhi made some suggestions, adding a white stripe while Lala Hansraj added the Dharm Chakra (wheel of law). 

India’s present flag was adopted during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947, just a few days short of India’s independence. 

This wasn’t all. Pingali Venkayya was also popularly known as “Diamond Venkayya.” He was expert in diamond mining. He was also called Patti Venkayya (Cotton Venkayya) for the studies he did in varieties of cotton. He had a doctorate in Geology, he also set up an educational institution in his home town, Machillipatnam, in Andhra Pradesh. 

Little recognition or honour though was to come Pingali Venkayya’s way in his lifetime. Till now, there is no statue of his in his own hometown. In 2009 though, a postage stamp was issued to honour his contributions in the freedom struggle.

Besides Rs 75 lakhs presented to Pingali’s daughter Mahalakshmi, chief minister Jaganmohan Reddy inaugurated a presentation on Pingali’s life. Pingali’s biography was presented to the chief minister by his family. 

 

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