Flags used during the British Raj
Official flags and emblems
[edit]The government of India used a variety of flags for different purposes. The Viceroy flew an official banner based on the Union Jack, featuring the Star of India badge.[1] In 1921 the Viceroy, Lord Reading, declared the government's intention to retain this design as the flag for imperial India.[2] The Governor-General was also assigned an official badge, defined and published in the British Admiralty flag book.[3]
The rulers of the Princely states also had their own banners, ceremonially presented to them during Queen Victoria's 1877 Durbar,[4] and the states also had their own official emblems.[5] The Royal Indian Navy flew a blue jack flag which beared the Star of India,[6] which was also used as an ensign.[7]
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![Flag of the Governor General of India, held at the National Maritime Museum in London. The central badge was based on the Star of India; this flag was also used by the provincial governors.[8]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Flag_of_the_Governor_General_of_India_RMG_RP-35-18_%28crop%29.jpg/120px-Flag_of_the_Governor_General_of_India_RMG_RP-35-18_%28crop%29.jpg)
Flag of the Governor General of India, held at the National Maritime Museum in London. The central badge was based on the Star of India; this flag was also used by the provincial governors.[8] -
![Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine, held at the National Maritime Museum in London.[9] The same design also served as the jack of the Royal Indian Navy.[10]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Ensign_of_the_Royal_Indian_Marine_%281927-1947%29_RMG_RP_18_21.jpg/120px-Ensign_of_the_Royal_Indian_Marine_%281927-1947%29_RMG_RP_18_21.jpg)
Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine, held at the National Maritime Museum in London.[9] The same design also served as the jack of the Royal Indian Navy.[10] -
![The Viceroy's Star of India banner being used to represent India at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.[11]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Viceroy_of_India_Flag_hoist.jpg/113px-Viceroy_of_India_Flag_hoist.jpg)
The Viceroy's Star of India banner being used to represent India at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.[11] -
![Badge of the Governor General of India, published in the 1916[12] and 1930[13] editions of the British Admiralty flag book. It was used on the Viceroy's flag,[14] and was also known as the "Badge of India."[15]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Badge_of_the_Governor_General_of_India.svg/75px-Badge_of_the_Governor_General_of_India.svg.png)
Badge of the Governor General of India, published in the 1916[12] and 1930[13] editions of the British Admiralty flag book. It was used on the Viceroy's flag,[14] and was also known as the "Badge of India."[15]
![Flag of the Governor General of India, held at the National Maritime Museum in London. The central badge was based on the Star of India; this flag was also used by the provincial governors.[8]](/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Governor_General_of_India_RMG_RP-35-18_(crop).jpg)
![Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine, held at the National Maritime Museum in London.[9] The same design also served as the jack of the Royal Indian Navy.[10]](/wiki/File:Ensign_of_the_Royal_Indian_Marine_(1927-1947)_RMG_RP_18_21.jpg)
![The Viceroy's Star of India banner being used to represent India at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.[11]](/wiki/File:Viceroy_of_India_Flag_hoist.jpg)
![Badge of the Governor General of India, published in the 1916[12] and 1930[13] editions of the British Admiralty flag book. It was used on the Viceroy's flag,[14] and was also known as the "Badge of India."[15]](/wiki/File:Badge_of_the_Governor_General_of_India.svg)
- ^ "Flag of the Governor General of India". www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum: Royal Museums Greenwich. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ Virmani, Arundhati (1999). "National Symbols under Colonial Domination: The Nationalization of the Indian Flag, March-August 1923". Past & Present (164): 169–197. doi:10.1093/past/164.1.169. ISSN 0031-2746. JSTOR 651278.
In August [1921], the new viceroy, Lord Reading, declared his government's intention of retaining the Union Jack, with the Star of India as the flag for India
- ^ Great Britain. Admiralty (1916). Drawings of the flags in use at the present time by various nations. London : H.M. Stationery, Eyre and Spottiswoode, limited, printers. p. 72.
- ^ Virmani, Arundhati (1999). "National Symbols under Colonial Domination: The Nationalization of the Indian Flag, March-August 1923". Past & Present (164): 169–197. doi:10.1093/past/164.1.169. ISSN 0031-2746. JSTOR 651278.
- ^ Phillips, David F. (2011). "Emblems of the Indian States" (PDF). Winchester, Massachusetts: Flag Heritage Foundation.
- ^ "Royal Indian Navy Jack with Star of India Badge". www.flagcollection.com. Zaricor Flag Collection. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine (1927-1947)". www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum: Royal Museums Greenwich. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ^ "Flag of the Governor General of India". www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum: Royal Museums Greenwich. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ "Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine (1927-1947)". www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum: Royal Museums Greenwich. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ^ "Royal Indian Navy Jack with Star of India Badge". www.flagcollection.com. Zaricor Flag Collection. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "1936 Berlin Olympic Games". www.bharatiyahockey.org. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ British Admiralty (1916). Drawings of the flags in use at the present time by various nations. London : H.M. Stationery, Eyre and Spottiswoode, limited, printers.
- ^ British Admiralty (1930). Drawings Of The Flags Of All Nations. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office.
- ^ "Flag of the Governor General of India". www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum: Royal Museums Greenwich. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
- ^ McCandless, Byron; Grosvenor, Gilbert (1917). Flags of the World. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society. p. 384.