By IANS
Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) : India’s tricolour fluttered everywhere as tens of thousands participated in a run here Sunday to pay rich tributes to Pingali Venkaiah, the man who designed the national flag.
The Tiranga Run was organised to create awareness about Venkaiah, who had presented the flag to Mahatma Gandhi at the Congress party’s meet here in 1921. Venkaiah died in poverty in 1963.
Hundreds of people initiated the run, which began at Venkaiah’s birthplace Batlapenumarru village, about 55 km from here. He hailed from Krishna district in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The 10-km run swelled up as it reached the city, with more than 100,000 people taking part. It was flagged off by Andhra Pradesh Governor N.D. Tiwari at the municipal stadium to the tune of “Vande Mataram”.
Participants held the tricolour aloft in their hands, and among them were many politicians, sportspersons and students.
All eyes were on Venkaiah’s daughter Ghantasala Seetha Mahalakshmi, who presented a flag to the governor. Mahalakshmi, 82, the lone survivor of Venkaiah’s immediate family, was felicitated on the occasion.
She demanded that the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, be awarded to her father posthumously.
Sky-diving and aerobatics had the huge gathering in the stadium spellbound. Colourful cultural programmes enthralled the spectators.
Assembly Speaker Suresh Reddy, Legislative Council Chairman Chakrapani, some state ministers and members of parliament were present to pay their homage to Venkaiah.
State minister M. Buddhaprasad and Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal flagged off the run after paying tribute to Venkaiah. They garlanded his statue and hoisted the tricolour.
Rajagopal took the initiative of organising this run in memory of Venkaiah. The run was organised to create awareness among people, especially the youth.
Born Aug 2, 1876, Venkaiah had designed the national flag and submitted it to Mahatma Gandhi at the All India Congress Committee session in Vijayawada in 1921.
The flag was made of two colours, red and green. It was accepted with some changes. The white and the ‘dharma chakra’ or the wheel were added to it. Venkaiah died July 4, 1963, in poverty.