Flag of India the Ashoka Chakra representing the eternal wheel of law. The philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who later became India's first Vice President and second President, clarified the adopted flag and described its significance as follows: A number of flags with varying designs were used in the period preceding the Indian Independence Movement by the rulers of different princely states; the idea of a single Indian flag was first raised by the British rulers of India after the rebellion of 1857, which resulted in the establishment of direct imperial rule. The first flag, whose design was based on western heraldic standards, were similar
Star of India (flag) Blue Ensign was used for military and naval purposes, the Red Ensign was used for representing India in most international events. The Star of India had a sunburst with the words "Heaven's Light Our Guide" around them, and was the badge of the Order of the Star of India, a chivalric order of knighthood. A blue state (government) ensign also existed, and was defaced with a lion holding a Tudor Crown. The Star of India flags were replaced by the Tiranga (Indian Tricolour) after Independence on 15 August 1947 in the independent Dominion of India, and by the Flag of