Flags in South Asia

Information courtesy Wikipedia; compiled by lingosaurus

South Asia is a complex region as observable in its flags. The ties that bind the region are a mélange of culture, colonialism, physical size and religion; ties that predate written history. It is through vexillary symbolism, then, that some of this mesh may be untangled.Sri Lanka is easily the region’s most complex flag. Critics point out that the Sri Lankan flag is less than ideal as a banner to identify friendly troops on a battlefield, but then again, the primarily Buddhist nation has no plans for war. The flag shows a lion, a symbol of might and courage in Asian cultures, surrounded by four bo leaves, symbolising four tenets of Buddhism Sri Lankans consider worthy of attention. To its left are two stripes of saffron and green—symbols of the country’s Hindu and Muslim minorities. A rich yellow border around the flag brings them all together, a symbol of unity and solidarity.

Important to note are some recurrent themes across the region. Courage is splashed across 5 of the 9 nations’ maps, a reminder of the virtue’s importance in securing the region’s independence from colonisers, as well as a lesson to future generations to be strong lest someone try snatching their liberties from them again. Progress and Prosperity are yet others. The region has long been exploited for its abundant spices and ores—Afghanistan, India and Pakistan claim to be the rightful owners of Britain’s prized heirloom, the Koh-i-noor—and now, as they seek to get back what was lost, the need to signal progress to people who have fallen behind in technology seems to take priority.

Islam has doubtless left a strong impression on South Asia. Sunni, Shia and Sufi migrations from the Mughal era have spread the religion to a great extent, so much so that four countries around India have the stars and crescent fluttering proudly on their flags.  Darker however, is the deep red staining Afghanistan’s and Bangladesh’s flags metaphorically. It stands for bloodshed and shows the sacrifices both countries’ people have made in the course of time.

Among these stands the Indian flag, trying to strike a balance between simplicity and accuracy. Although many might interpret the saffron and green the same way as for the flag of Sri Lanka, the secular country’s flag actually has “saffron for monk-like disinterestedness in material gains [meant for the country’s leaders], white for Truth, and green for plant life, i.e., the country’s agrarian roots,” as explained by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. In the centre stands the Ashoka Chakra, symbolizing the eternal rule of Law and the country’s motion toward the future.

As these nations amble along through the 21^st century, their flags enshrine their past struggles, their present desires, and their hope for what may come.

-Vishal Upadhayay