Chicago – January 27, 2026
While Pingali Venkayyah is widely credited as the designer of India’s national flag, the final version of the tricolour was actually created by Surayya Tayyabji, whose contribution has largely gone unrecognized.
As India approached independence in 1947, the need for a national flag became urgent. Jawaharlal Nehru entrusted this responsibility to Badruddin Tayyabji, who formed a flag committee led by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Several art schools submitted designs, many influenced by British emblems, but the committee insisted on a symbol rooted in Indian heritage.
According to Laila Tayyabji, daughter of Surayya and Badruddin Tayyabji, Pingali Venkayyah’s Congress flag featured Mahatma Gandhi’s spinning wheel (charkha). However, concerns arose that a party symbol should not represent the entire nation. After deliberation, Gandhi agreed to replace it with the Ashoka Chakra, inspired by the Ashoka Pillar, a symbol respected across religious communities.
Surayya Tayyabji initially painted the chakra in black, but Gandhi objected, leading to its final color being changed to navy blue. This design was ultimately adopted as India’s national flag, making Surayya Tayyabji the key figure behind its final form.
