IAF Day celebration to take place in Prayagraj
Prayagraj: As part of India’s endeavour of shedding away from the colonial legacy, the Indian Air Force will unveil its new ensign at the 91st IAF Day celebrations at Prayagraj on Sunday.
IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Ashish Moghe said that the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhuri will be unveiling the new ensign. “October 8, 2023 will go down as a momentous day in the annals of IAF history.”
Going back in history, the RIAF Ensign comprised of the Union Jack in the upper left canton and the RIAF roundel (Red, White & Blue) on the fly side.
Post-Independence, the Indian Air Force ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian tri colour and the RAF roundels with the IAF tri colour roundel in the lower right canton.
“A new lAF ensign has now been created to better reflect the values of the Indian Air Force.”
“This reaffirmation will now be reflected by the inclusion of the Air Force Crest in the top right corner of the Ensign, towards the fly side.”
The IAF Crest has the national symbol, the Ashoka lion on the top with the words “सत्यमेव जयते” in Devanagari below it. Below the Ashoka lion is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF.
A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words “भारतीय वायु सेना”The motto of the IAF "नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम्" is inscribed below Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari.
The IAF motto has been taken from verse 24, Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita and means "Radiant Thou Touchest Heaven" or in other words "Touching the sky with Glory".
Over a year back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled the Indian Navy’s new ensign during the commissioning of aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Kochi. It has a flag drawing inspiration from the seal of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Cross of St George was dropped.
