"New Naval Flag incorporates elements from Chhatrapati Shivaji's Rajmurda" is what Indian Media has said/reported about new Naval Ensign. This was based on something Hon'ble PM had mentioned in his monologue during award of a New Ensign to Indian Navy on Friday,02 September,2022. And Desh ki Janata lapped it up,hook,line and sinker.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also lauded Chatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj for his contribution towards building of the Naval Force of Modern Times and inspiration our Navy has drawn from him. This all went on well on till evening of 02 September.But thereafter, a opinion that the PM should also have drawn inspiration from and mentioned contribution of South Indian Maritime Traditions,is slowly cropping/surfacing up.
The Indian Navy now has a new Ensign, shorn of its Colonial Legacy featuring Blood Red Cross of St George. It is a very simple design. Some of my retired Naval colleagues,without specifying the required/suggestive changes,opined that more inspiring and distinguishing features could've been added."Something is amiss,it doesn't seem to give a Full Look" they had said.
In fact, New Ensign design without doubt, must have many times travelled up and down the Naval, Bureaucratic and Political Chain of Command, before being finalised.Since no one in this entire hierarchical procession, including the new Department of Military Affairs, had voiced any adverse opinion on design of the Ensign,it is safe to assume that it has had approval of everyone up/down the chain. One can be sure that,in the run-up to its release, this Ensign Design was not kept a closely guarded secret and opinion of concerned and connected retired senior Naval Officers was sought.
That is why, while unveiling the New Ensign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that "With the New Flag,India had taken off a trace of slavery, a burden of slavery which.till now,remained on the flag of Indian Navy.But today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, new Navy Flag will fly in the Sea and in the Sky." Prime Minister further opined that,Chhatrapati's Navy had kept his enemies on their toes and when the British came to India they were intimidated by the power of the Maratha Ships.
Therefore,to avoid further interference from Maratha Naval Power,British decided to break the back of India’s Maritime Power and in the process,strict restrictions were imposed on Indian Ships and Merchants by enacting various constricting laws in the British Parliament at that time.
The new Naval Ensign has revered Tri Colour in its upper left quadrant in a stark white background alongside a Navy blue gold octagon at the centre, with its eight points denoting Navy’s operational reach and status in all eight Cardinals. The National Ashoka Lion Emblem atop an anchor,superimposed on a shield with Naval motto,Shanno Varunah, a call to Sea Gods to be propitious and magnanimous inscribed below the anchor is placed in the centre of the octagon. In old Ensign,the anchor had a twisted cable around its stock with a fluke resting it vertically on the Seabed. New clear anchor symbolises Freedom and steadfastness of Indian Navy. It is said that Twin octagonal borders of Blue Shield drew inspiration from Rajmudra/Seal of Chhatrpati Shivaji Maharaj who had a visionary Maritime Outlook and had built a credible fleet which earned grudging admiration from contemporary European Navies.
This latest Ensign has a close resemblance to one which was inducted on Independence Day of 2001 by then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee led Coalition Government for ridding Naval Flag from its Colonial Shackles. It had revered Tri Colour where it is in the new one.In 2004, this ensign was forsaken by Shri Manmohan Singh Government for frivolous complaints about matching of colours and old Ensign with the Cross of St George was reintroduced. Only difference being, insertion of Ashoka Lion Emblem into intersecting centre of the cross.
Another Point of View is; India’s maritime heritage is not confined only to Maritime Exploits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.Maratha Naval Exploits were significant in terms of their scale and maritime credibility. But the fact should not be overlooked that; Satavahanas who ruled over Deccan Peninsula from 200 BC to around 200 AD traded with distant Rome. Their coins, embossed with a ship, were discovered in southern Mediterranean Archaeological Sites.On the other hand; track record of Chola Empires was even more glorious.Bay of Bengal was sort of a ‘Chola Lake’, while their ships ably resisted the formidable Chinese in South East Asia. Chola Armies riding their ships, had invaded Sri Lanka, the Maldives as well as Malaysia, Indonesia and Southern Thailand.So were the exploits of Vijay Nagar Empire who had traded with Messopotomia, modern day Iraq. Hon'ble PM could have mentioned their contribution as well.
Though,many may not agree with my observation and I might be criticized for airing views contrary to prevailing ones; but It seems to me that Naval Ensigns of the past also had same octagon with eight points. This time,PM has only highlighted it's importance and linked it with the Rajmudra/Seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.Probably it had some Political Angle which news hungry Media has eagerly lapped up. But that's the way people want it,so Media provides it.
Now that New Ensign has been awarded to Indian Navy,it is the duty of every Seaman and Officer to respect it and be ready to laydown his life to preserve its Dignity and Honour. That's what a soldier does; always live and die for "Naam, Namak aur Nishan".
