AWARDS & HONOURS

Jnanpith Award

• Context: Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu has been selected for the 60th Jnanpith Award (2025).

About the Jnanpith Award

• • Established: 1961 by Bharatiya Jnanpith.

• First Award: Presented in 1965 to G. Sankara Kurup (Malayalam).

• • Highest Literary Honour: It is India’s highest literary award for outstanding contribution to literature.
  • Founders: Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Rama Jain through Bharatiya Jnanpith, founded in 1944.
  • Eligibility: Given every year to an Indian writer in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or English (included from 2013).

• Award Criteria:

• • 1965–1981: Awarded for a specific literary work.
  • Since 1982: Awarded for overall lifetime contribution to literature.

• • Posthumous Award: Not given after the author’s death.

• Award Includes:

• • Cash prize of ₹11 lakh
  • Citation
  • Bronze statue of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati)

• Selection: Chosen by the Pravara Parishad, a committee of eminent scholars and literary experts.

1. Vairamuthu

• Recipient: Winner of the 60th Jnanpith Award (2025).

• Importance: Becomes the third Tamil writer to receive the award after Akilan and Jayakanthan.

• Sahitya Akademi Award: Received in 2003 for his novel Kallikattu Ithikasam.

• Significance: This award ends a 24-year gap since a Tamil writer last received the Jnanpith Award.

National Flag Day (Tiranga Adoption Day)

• Context: India observed National Flag Day (Tiranga Adoption Day) on 22 July 2025.

• The day marks the adoption of the Indian National Flag by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947.

Key Facts about the Indian National Flag

Evolution of the Indian National Flag

• 1904 – Sister Nivedita’s Flag

• • • Designed by Sister Nivedita, an Irish social worker and disciple of Swami Vivekananda.
    • It had red and yellow colours, a Vajra (symbol of strength), a white lotus (purity), and the words “Bande Mataram”.

• 1906 – Swadeshi Movement Flag

• • Considered the first tricolour flag.
  • Hoisted in Calcutta during the Swadeshi Movement.
  • It had green, yellow, and red stripes with lotuses, a sun, a crescent moon, and “Vande Mataram”.

• 1907 – Saptarishi Flag

• • • Hoisted by Madam Bhikaji Cama in Germany.
    • It featured green, saffron, and red stripes, along with lotuses, “Vande Mataram”, a sun, and a crescent moon.

• 1917 – Home Rule Movement Flag

• • Introduced by Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
  • It had red and green stripes, the Union Jack, a crescent and star, and seven stars representing the Saptarishi.

• 1921 – Pingali Venkayya’s Design

• • • Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh, proposed a red, white, and green flag with a spinning wheel (Charkha).
    • The design represented unity and self-reliance.
    • The present Indian flag is mainly based on his design.

• 1931 – Congress Flag

• • Saffron replaced red.
  • The flag had saffron, white, and green stripes with the Charkha in the centre.
  • It was officially adopted by the Indian National Congress.

• 1947 – Present National Flag

• • Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947.
  • The Charkha was replaced by the navy blue Ashoka Chakra.

Features of the Indian National Flag

• Common Name: Tiranga (Tricolour).
• Design: Three horizontal bands: Saffron (top), White (middle), Green (bottom)
• A navy blue Ashoka Chakra is placed at the centre of the white band.

Ashoka Chakra

• • Has 24 spokes.

• Inspired by the wheel on the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.

• Belongs to Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BC).

• Fits within the width of the white band.

Meaning of the Colours

• Saffron: Courage and strength.
• White: Peace, truth, and purity.
• Green: Fertility, growth, prosperity, and India’s connection with agriculture and nature.
• Ashoka Chakra: Symbol of law, justice, progress, and continuous movement. It reminds us that life moves forward, while stagnation leads to decline.

Other Important Facts

• • Flag Ratio: 3:2 (Length : Height).
  • Flag Code of India, 2002: Lays down the rules for the display, use, and respect of the National Flag.
  • Article 51A(a) of the Constitution: Makes it the fundamental duty of every citizen to respect the National Flag and the National Anthem.
  • Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: Provides punishment for insulting the National Flag or National Anthem.

• Material:

• • Traditionally made from hand-spun khadi, symbolising self-reliance.
  • In 2021, the Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended to allow flags made from machine-made fabric and polyester, along with other approved materials.