19/08/2022
Flag of India
Flag of India, this would have been, if Gandhi had his way.
Gandhi wanted British Union Jack symbol on the flag of India. He approved Mountbatten's suggestion of deference to Union Jack as a "token of gratitude". He said India would be ungrateful if it did not include it.
Gandhi said “But what is wrong with having the Union Jack in a corner of our flag? If harm has been done to us by the British, it has not been done by their flag and we must also take note of the virtues of the British. They are voluntarily withdrawing from India, leaving power in our hands".
Gandhi even said he would not salute the Indian flag if Charka was not included.
Gandhi said- “I must say that, if the Flag of the Indian Union will not embody the emblem of the Charkha, I will refuse to salute that flag. You know the National Flag of India was first thought of by me, and I cannot conceive of India’s National Flag without the emblem of the Charkha”.
It is to Sardar Patel's credit that he opposed Gandhi's flag tooth and nail and prevented it from becoming Indian national flag
Source: Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Volume 96.
PS: Gandhi also wanted green on top of saffron to "assure the Muslims of our intentions"
