Salutations on CA Day 1st July to our Alma Mater

CA Amresh Vashisht

As long as I live, I will never forget Ist July 2015 as I raised my hand to hoist the flag of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India at my mother Branch Meerut Branch of CIRC of ICAI. Do you know how proud it was? I am so proud of the honor given to me to hoist the flag of the ICAI as a part of CA DAY 2015 celebrations made by Meerut Branch. I believe our flag is more than just blue colour cloth and its logo. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for integrity, objectivity of an auditor and also depicts autonomy that has been defending by the Torch bearers of this Institute. We are under one flag, one institute, one act, one destiny; let us stand together. Our flag honors those who have fought to protect the autonomy of the Institute. It is a reminder of our great leaders who carried the flag of the ICAI with dignity and head high. Our flag represents the entire work team of 2,30,000 members, its staff and other stakeholders who are working day and night to maintain its glory. I offer my salutations to this blue colour flag. This shall be an unforgettable date for me as I unfurled Institute Flag and addressed a speech at the Branch.

The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 was passed on 1st May. The term Chartered Accountant came to be used in place of Indian Registered Accountants. Chartered Accountants Act was brought into effect on 1st July. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is born. It was on 1st July 1949 that The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India got established with 15 selected and 5 Government-nominated members in its Council, and the noble accountancy profession was constitutionally recognised, more than six months before our Country got its Constitution.

Despite a great and outstanding membership, the flag of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is relatively lesser known. Not everybody knows that there is an inclusive relationship between the flag and the logo of the Institute, i.e. the flag structurally contains the logo of the Institute.

The Institute Mouthpiece THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, A monthly journal carried an article DID YOU KNOW — ICAI FLAG related to the flag of the institute in its July 2012 edition as follows.

BIRTH OF THE ICAI FLAG:

The design of the Institute’s logo was suggested by the great nationalist and philosopher Shri Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950) and the same was conveyed to then SIRC Chairman Shri C. S. Sastri, later our past-President for 1956-1957, on his request. Shri Aurobindo also suggested the motto for the logo from a śloka of the Kathopanishada, i.e.

ya eṣa supteṣu jāgarti, meaning ‘one who is awake among those who are asleep’.

He used to say: ‘Man is a transitional being. He is not final. The step from man to superman is the next approaching achievement in the earth evolution.’ The Council considered the LOGO in its meeting held on 15th August, 1950, and approved the same. This day also happened to be the 78th and the last birth anniversary of Shri Aurobindo.

SIZE, COLOUR, MATERIAL OF THE FLAG

The size, colour and material to be used in the Institute’s Flag will be as under:

SIZE:

Dimensions (in mm.) 2700 x 1800 OR 1800 x 1200 —

Dimension (in ft. and inches) 9’ x 6’OR 6’ x 4’ (approx.)

COLOUR:

Deep navy blue coloured background with Institute’s coloured logo in the center, primarily in white colour

MATERIAL:

Silk cloth (in deep navy blue colour)

COURTESY TO FLAG

1. Whenever and wherever the Flag is flown, the same shall occupy the position of honour and the same is to be distinctly placed.

2.The Flag can be flown on buildings of the Headquarter(s), Regional Councils, Regional Offices, De-centralised Offices and Branches on all days including Sundays and holidays from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather conditions.

3.The Flag may be flown on the aforementioned buildings at night also but only on very special occasions such as Chartered Accountants Day, Golden Jubilee Day, Diamond Jubilee Day, etc.

4.The Flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly. If accompanied by appropriate bugle calls regularly or on special occasions, the hoisting and the lowering of the Flag should be simultaneous with the bugle calls.

5.Whenever a Flag is flown on a Speaker’s platform, the Flag should be on a staff on the Speaker’s right as he faces the audience. If otherwise displayed, it should be flat against the wall above and behind the Speaker.

6.When the Flag is used on occasions like unveiling of statue, it should be displayed distinctly and separately and in no circumstances, the Flag should be used as a cover for a statue or a monument.

ADHERENCE

The ceremonial attending the hoisting, lowering, saluting or half-masting of the Flag must be strictly adhered to by all individuals present on the occasion and the Institutions on which the Flag is flown.

DISPLAY ON DAYS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

On special occasions like the Republic Day and the National week following it, Independence Day, or, any other particular day of National pride, the Institute’s

Flag can also be flown and without any restriction of the time limit followed on normal days.

HALF-MASTING

1.In the event of death of select dignitaries of the Institute (to be specified appropriately), the Institute’s Flag can be half-masted at place(s) to be indicated on the day of death of the dignitary concerned. However, in the case of death of the President, the Vice-President or, of the Prime Minister of the country, the Institute’s Flag must be half-masted at all places in the country.

2.In the event of intimation of death of any designated dignitary being received in the afternoon, the Institute’s Flag can be half-masted on the following day also at place(s), provided the funeral has not taken place before sunrise on that day i.e., the following day as mentioned.

3.On the day of the funeral of the designated dignitary, the Institute’s Flag should be half-masted in the building(s) located at the place, i.e., city/ town where the funeral takes place.

4.In the event of any mourning being observed on the death of any national-level dignitary like the President, the Vice-President, or, the Prime Minister of the country, the Institute’s Flag should be half-masted throughout the period of the mourning.

5.In the event of a half-mast day coinciding with the day on which the National Flag is to be flown such as Republic Day and Independence Day, the Institute’s Flag should be flown at half-mast at the specified building where body is lying and the Flag should be raised to the full-mast position after the body has been taken for the funeral.

DISPLAY WITH FLAGS OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL BODIES

1. When displayed in a straight line with Flags of other professional bodies in India – National as well as International – the Institute (ICAI) Flag should be on the extreme right.

2. On the occasion of the visit to the Institute or any of its organs by dignitaries from other professional bodies, the Institute’s Flag may be flown along with the Flag of the professional body concerned.

OFFICIAL DISPLAY

The Institute’s Flag can be flown on all days on the buildings in which the Headquarters, the Regional Councils, the Regional Offices, De-centralized Offices, and the Branches of Regional Councils (own building) of the Institute are situated.

INCORRECT DISPLAY

1. A damaged or disheveled Flag shall not be displayed, nor shall it be displayed or fastened, used or stored in any manner as may damage it.

2. The Flag shall not be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting or in any other manner for decoration; nor shall other colored pieces of cloth be so arranged as to give the appearance of the Institute’s Flag.

3. The Flag shall not be used to cover a speaker’s desk nor shall it be draped over a speaker’s platform.

4. The Flag shall not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water.

5. The Flag shall not be used in any form of advertisement nor shall an advertising sign be fastened to the pole from which the Flag is flown.

6. When the Flag is in a damaged or soiled condition, it may not be cast aside or disrespectfully disposed of, but it shall be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the Flag .