HVK Archives: Saffron and nationalism
Saffron and nationalism - Mid-Day
Posted By ashok (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
Fri, 14 Jun 96 09:59:08 PDT
The Sangh parivar is called a saffron brigade, and the word saffron (as
in colour) is used interchangably with Hindutva. This is really a
recognition of the nationalism of the movement.
When a committee of the Congress in early 1930s sat to work out
what the flag should be, the unanimous decision was a saffron flag
with a blue Ashok Chakra on the top left hand corner. The
explanation for chosing saffron was that it represented the colour
which distinguishes this country from the rest of the world - that is
saffron is associated with ancient India. The committee consisted of,
besides others, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad.
Yet, the Bhagwa Dhwaj of the RSS is dubbed as the flag of the
Marathas, and there was a major controversy during the serial
"Chanakya" for showing excessive saffron flags on roof tops. (The
director of the serial refused to change the setting, and said that at
best he will agree that the serial be shown in black and white. He
won.)
The change to the present was made at the insistance of Mahatma
Gandhi, who feared the objection from the Muslims. Thus the colour
green to represent Islam was added, although today we do not give
this interpretation to this colour. Similarly, the saffron (now called
orange) is not given its original meaning. This is one of the earlier
instances of Muslim appeasement.
Namaste.
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