Ashoka Chakra: The Story, Meaning and Structure of India’s National Symbol
Ashoka Chakra: The Story, Meaning and Structure of India’s National Symbol The Ashoka Chakra is one of the most recognisable symbols of India. We can see it in the centre of the Indian national flag, placed on a white background between the saffron and green colours. It looks simple at first, but the Ashoka Chakra carries a deep history and many important meanings. It represents movement, justice, duty and the continuous progress of the nation. The word “Chakra” means wheel, and the Ashoka Chakra is often called the Wheel of Dharma. Its history goes back more than two thousand years to the time of Emperor Ashoka, one of the most important rulers of ancient India. The History of the Ashoka Chakra The Ashoka Chakra takes its inspiration from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. Emperor Ashoka belonged to the Mauryan Empire and ruled a large part of the Indian subcontinent during the 3rd century BCE. After the terrible Kalinga War, Ashoka experienced a major change in his life. Th...