The new ensign of the Indian Navy bears the seal of Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who is credited with laying the groundwork for the modern Indian Navy.
The eight directions are represented by the blue octagon that encases the National Emblem, which represents the Navy’s “multidirectional reach and operational capability.”
New Nishaan
The new Nishaan shows the tricolour on the upper left hand corner and a blue octagon encasing the public image on an anchor superimposed on a safeguard with the Navyan’s witticism “Sam No Varuna” in Devanagari on the right side, replacing the previous ensign which showed the cross of Saint George, a remnant of India’s pioneer past.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated in a proclamation that the new ensign would “get rid of the provincial past and befit the rich Indian oceanic legacy.”
Ensign of the Indian Navy had changed several times
Before this, the ensign of the Indian Navy had changed several times. Following independence in 1950, the ensign was changed, with the Indian public banner replacing the Union Jack in the canton (upper left corner).
St. George’s cross was replaced with the maritime peak in the banner in 2001, but the progressions were reversed in 2004, when the cross was carried back alongside the Ashoka token. In 2014, the words ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in Devanagari script were incorporated beneath the Ashoka emblem.
The blue octagon encasing the public seal addresses the eight bearings and has been incorporated as an image of the Navy’s “multidirectional reach and complex functional capacity.” The anchor beneath the seal represents loyalty.
The octagonal shape with twin brilliant lines is inspired by the mark of Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who built a significant maritime armada during his reign.
The Navy’s witticism “Sam No Varuna” a Vedic mantra conjuring Varuna, the divine force of oceans, to be favourable has been included in Devanagari.
