In independent India, the very first national flag hoisted at the Red Fort in Delhi was made in Tamil Nadu. Here’s a brief history of it: Historical records state that the national flag made in Gudiyatham, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, was the very same flag hoisted at the Red Fort in Delhi when our country attained independence. In Gudiyatham, Vellore district, R. Venkatasalam served as the municipal chairman for 10 consecutive years starting in 1932. At that time, he was engaged in the handloom weaving industry. During that period, a central government official approached him and entered into a contract to produce one million national flags to be hoisted across the country. Based on this request, under Venkatasalam’s leadership, more than 300 weavers from Gudiyatham worked day and night to weave a one-million batch of national flags, each measuring 12 feet in width and 18 feet in length. In addition, they made three special flags exclusively for hoisting at the Red Fort in Delhi and sent them separately. Historical records say that one of these special flags was the one hoisted at the Red Fort on 15th August 1947. At that time, the national flags produced in Gudiyatham, Tamil Nadu, were distributed to various parts of the country. On Independence Day, the flags fluttering across the nation were all made in Gudiyatham, Tamil Nadu. This remarkable achievement earned Venkatasalam high praise from leaders of that era. In particular, after assuming office, the first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, sent a letter of thanks to Venkatasalam. The then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Bhaktavatsalam, also sent him a letter of appreciation. Thus, Tamil Nadu’s contribution holds a place of great importance in the history of the first national flag hoisted in Delhi in independent India. R.Amarvannan For Zee News From Chennai