In the language of flags
DEEPTI RUTH AZARIAH
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Before you wave the Tricolour this Independence day, understand what it means.
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PHOTO: V. SUDERSHAN.
TRICOLOUR: Keeping the tradition.
Will you wave the Tricolour this Independence Day? Across the world others are using flags too. Somewhere a signalman has stopped a train with his red flag. A soldier is ending a battle by holding up the white flag of surrender. A few weeks ago, football fans held up flags to support players at the FIFA World Cup. They are all communicating in one of the oldest ways ever — through the language of flags.
The Indians and the Chinese invented flags nearly 3000 years ago. Since then flags have conveyed all kinds of messages. Initially they bore the insignia of Asian and European kings. Peasants always knew a nobleman by his flag. The flag of Richard the Lionheart had three lions on it.
By the 15th century, countries had their own flag. Every nation's flag is a coded message about the country's culture and history. Former British colonies like India and the U.S. have horizontal stripes on their flags. Former French colonies usually have vertical-striped flags — take Canada for instance. Islamic nations like Pakistan have green in their flags. Communist countries like China use red.
Different meanings
Flags have other meanings too. The white flag with a red cross indicates medical aid and is used by the Red Cross Society. A yellow flag signals an infectious disease, and a red one danger. Every seafarer fears the ship that flies the Jolly Roger — the black flag with the skull and crossed bones used by pirates.
Even the position of a flag tells a tale. Ships fly their flags upside down when they are in trouble. The flag of the winning country at the Olympics flies higher than the rest. But all the flags in front of the United Nations headquarters fly at the same height, for, all nations are equal. Ships have a system of communication using flags at different positions. This is called semaphore.
A flag may look like a simple, brightly patterned piece of cloth. But it tells a complex story. When you salute the flag this Independence Day, you are keeping up a tradition. The Tricolour will remind you of your nation's past and our present way of life, you will be speaking the language of flags.
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