Among the priceless treasures of Chennai’s Fort Museum is a historic Indian tricolour that was hoisted on August 15, 1947, marking the birth of a free India. This vintage flag, made of pure silk and measuring approximately 3.5 meters long by 2.4 meters wide, is considered one of the first flags raised on that momentous day. The museum proudly displays this rare artifact as a testament to India’s struggle for freedom.
Fort Museum, located in the centuries-old Fort St George area of Chennai, is renowned for its extensive collection of antiquities. The fort itself, completed on April 23, 1644, on St George’s Day, was a strategic military stronghold through both World Wars and the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it stands as a symbol of Chennai’s historical significance.
The museum, which opened to the public on January 31, 1948, houses over 3,600 artifacts spread across three floors and ten galleries. Highlights include the Indian Independence Gallery, which showcases the evolution of the Indian flag and its historical context. The museum was organized following a suggestion by Col D M Reid of the old Madras Guards, aiming to preserve and display relics of the colonial era.
The flag on display at Fort Museum is not only a historical artifact but also a symbol of the nation’s journey to independence. The Indian Independence Gallery offers visitors a glimpse into the evolution of the national flag and the stories behind it.
