- Tuesday, March 11, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday (2) unveiled the Indian Navy’s new ensign ‘Nishaan’ at an event to mark the commissioning of INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, in Kochi in the southern state of Kerala.
The new vessel will adorn the new ensign with effect from its commissioning.
Speaking on the new ensign which saw the exclusion of the St George’s Cross and incorporated the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, an Indian king from the 17th century, Modi said “a sign of slavery has been replaced”.
आज 2 सितंबर, 2022 की ऐतिहासिक तारीख को, इतिहास बदलने वाला एक और काम हुआ है।
आज भारत ने, गुलामी के एक निशान, गुलामी के एक बोझ को अपने सीने से उतार दिया है।
आज से भारतीय नौसेना को एक नया ध्वज मिला है: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 2, 2022
“Indian Naval flags which carried a sign of slavery has been replaced with the a new one inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Modi said, adding that India has shed its colonial past and dedicated INS Vikrant to Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj.
Last month, India celebrated the 75th anniversary of its Independence achieved from British rule which lasted for almost two centuries.
“Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new Navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky,” the prime minister said.
The previous ensign of the Indian Navy included the Indian National Flag in the upper left canton, red vertical and horizontal stripes and a golden yellow State Emblem superimposed on the intersection of the stripes. The national motto ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (Truth Alone Triumphs) engraved in Devanagiri script was seen underneath the emblem.
The navy had invited inputs for a new design and after responses poured in from various quarters of the naval force, the new ensign was developed.
The new ensign comprises two main parts — the National Flag in the upper left canton and a navy blue-gold octagon at the centre of the fly side. The octagon is with twin golden octagonal borders encompassing a golden National Emblem resting atop an anchor and superimposed on a shield.
Below the shield and within the octagon, in a golden bordered ribbon on a navy blue background, is inscribed ‘Sam No Varunah’, the motto of the Indian Navy meaning ‘May Varuna or the God of Ocean be auspicious’ in golden Devanagri script.
While the navy blue colour of the octagonal shape implies the blue water capabilities of the Indian Navy, the twin octagonal borders are inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who was known for his maritime vision and earned admiration of his contemporary European naval powers.
The octagon shape also represents eight directions — four cardinal and four inter cardinal — to symbolise the Indian Navy’s global outreach. The octagon also stands for good fortune and draws positive energy from all directions.
