Program to make Indian Flag in Python

Python's libraries for drawing graphs have very extensive features which can not only give us charts but also provide flexibility to draw other diagrams like flags. In that sense, those modules have an artistic touch. In this article we will see how to draw the Indian flag using the libraries NumPy and Matplotlib.

Approach

• Create three rectangles of same width and draw them with appropriate colors and borders representing the tricolor.

• Use pyplot function to draw the circle of the Ashoka Chakra at the center of the middle rectangle.

• Use NumPy and Matplotlib to draw the 24 spokes inside the Ashoka Chakra.

• In all the above drawing we specify the colors, borders, radius and line lengths to match the proportions of the Indian flag.

Creating the Indian Flag

We implement the above approach using the following program which creates the three horizontal stripes and the Ashoka Chakra in the center ?

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as py
import matplotlib.patches as patch

# Plotting the tri colors in national flag
# Green stripe (bottom)
green_stripe = patch.Rectangle((0,1), width=12, height=2, facecolor='green', edgecolor='grey')
# White stripe (middle)
white_stripe = patch.Rectangle((0,3), width=12, height=2, facecolor='white', edgecolor='grey')
# Saffron stripe (top)
saffron_stripe = patch.Rectangle((0,5), width=12, height=2, facecolor='#FF9933', edgecolor='grey')

# Create the plot
fig, ax = py.subplots()
ax.add_patch(green_stripe)
ax.add_patch(white_stripe)
ax.add_patch(saffron_stripe)

# Ashoka Chakra Circle
radius = 0.8
# Center point of the chakra
py.plot(6, 4, marker='o', markerfacecolor='#000088ff', markersize=9.5)
# Main circle of the chakra
chakra = py.Circle((6, 4), radius, color='#000088ff', fill=False, linewidth=7)
ax.add_artist(chakra)

# 24 spokes in Ashoka Chakra
for i in range(0, 24):
    p = 6 + radius/2 * np.cos(np.pi*i/12 + np.pi/48)
    q = 6 + radius/2 * np.cos(np.pi*i/12 - np.pi/48)
    r = 4 + radius/2 * np.sin(np.pi*i/12 + np.pi/48)
    s = 4 + radius/2 * np.sin(np.pi*i/12 - np.pi/48)
    t = 6 + radius * np.cos(np.pi*i/12)
    u = 4 + radius * np.sin(np.pi*i/12)
    ax.add_patch(patch.Polygon([[6,4], [p,r], [t,u], [q,s]], fill=True, closed=True, color='#000088ff'))

# Set equal aspect ratio and display
py.axis('equal')
py.title('Indian Flag')
py.show()

The output of the above code is ?

How It Works

The program creates the Indian flag by following these key steps:

• Rectangle Creation: Three rectangles represent the saffron, white, and green stripes of the flag

• Chakra Circle: A blue circle is drawn at the center of the white stripe

• Spoke Generation: Using trigonometric functions, 24 spokes are drawn as polygons radiating from the center

• Color Scheme: Official colors are used ? saffron (#FF9933), white, green, and navy blue (#000088ff)

Key Components

Conclusion

This program demonstrates how Python's Matplotlib and NumPy libraries can be used for creative graphical projects beyond simple charts. The combination of geometric shapes, trigonometry, and color management creates an accurate representation of the Indian flag.