The Indian flag was designed as a symbol of freedom. In the centre of the white band is the the Dharma Chakra (wheel) in navy blue. The chakra or the Wheel of Law is from the Sarnath Lion Capital constructed by Emperor Ashoka. It has 24 spokes. The saffron represnts courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white is for purity and truth; the green is for faith, prosperity and fertility.
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya hey,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata
Punjaba-sindhu-gujarata-maratha dravida-utkala-banga
Vindhya-himachala-yamuna-ganga ucchhala-jaladhi taranga
Tava subha name jage tava subha ashisha mage
Gahe tava jaya gatha.
Jana-gana-mangala dayaka, jaya hey,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata,
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he, jaya jaya jaya, jaya he
The following is Rabindranath Tagore's English rendering of the stanza.
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny.
The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha, of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal; it echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The salvation of all people is in thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny. Victory, victory, victory to thee.
Ajay K Rolla, President
McLean County India Association PO Box 375 Bloomington IL 61702-0375
Email : OurMCIA@gmail.com
Phone : 309.826.0969