This is the national flag of the Federated Trusts of Dravidia (most commonly known as Dravidia), an Asian nation located on the Deccan Plateau (formerly known as Southern India). Known popularly in Dravidia as the ‘Great Aruval’ or simply ‘The Aruval’, the flag has maintained the same design since Dravidia gained independence in 1951.
The design for the flag was inspired by the battle flag flown by the Dravidian Independence Forces (DIF) during the Dravidian War of Independence (also known as the Indian Civil War or the Indo-Dravidian War). Notably, both flags displayed a type of billhook machete (referred to as an ‘Aruval’ in the Tamil language) commonly used across Southern India for centuries.
However, the DIF battle flag was simply a large black Aruval in the middle of a plain yellow background. In contrast, the Aruval in the Dravidian national flag is considerably smaller and located within the top left corner of the flag within a black circle outline.
The design of the Dravidian National Flag was developed by Captain Vaiko Prabhakaran, who was a Draughtsman within the DIF and notable member of the All Dravidian Independence Federation (ADIF) during the Dravidian War of Independence.
Captain Prabhakaran was commissioned by the ADIF to design the flag of the new nation after it gained its independence. As Dravidia contained peoples from a wide range of linguistic, religious and ethnic groups, Captain Prabhakaran decided to use the Aruval as a unifying symbol. This was due to the Aruval’s long held status as a utilitarian tool of farming, labour and warfare in Southern India.
Going forward, it would also be a powerful symbol and guiding light as Dravidian society embraced a militaristic and nature-focused outlook.
The flag was submitted to the Fourth Conference of the ADIF, where it was voted unanimously to be the new flag of the Republic of Dravidia.
