Hey everybody welcome back to flag / fan Friday. Hope you liked the India episode!
Dude, there were so many of you Indian Geograpeeps that contacted us and wanted to help out with the episode.
I couldn't read all of them, there was like over 200, but I did get a lot of great information from you guys
So thank you. Fun side note I knew pretty much nothing was going to come of it
But I did just for fun,
I tried to contact Lilly Singh just just to see if she wanted to be in the episode. I never heard back plus
I think she was like in Trinidad and Tobago and she was filming something plus
she's way too popular to collaborate with me. But that's okay! So anyway flag time! Let's go! Without further ado...
[ upbeat jingle ]
Ah, India! A huge country with too much backstory, so many different diverse people groups,
but the whole thing is, they kind of know how to move forward together. First of all, the flag is a horizontal tricolour of green
white and "Indian Saffron" make sure you distinguish it apart from orange it's not orange
It's "Indian Saffron" and in the middle lies the Ashoka Chakra
or the Dharma Wheel. The configuration was first proposed by Gandhi back in the 1920s,
Later on the meanings of each color were as follows: the Saffron stood for courage,
sacrifice and dedicated leaders, the white for peace and truth, as well as being a light towards the path of truth, and the green for faith,
chivalry, and the relation to plant life which all other life depends on. Now the wheel:
Originally, the wheel was meant to depict a traditional fabric spinning wheel to represent the Indian stripe for self-reliance.
Gandhi was known himself to have fabricated all his own clothing by a spinning wheel.
But eventually it took on the image of the Ashoka Chakra.
Or Dharma Wheel. Now what exactly is that? Well you kinda have to know a little bit about Hinduism.
Essentially, the Ashoka Chakra is a 24-spoked wheel that appears on many ancient Indian sites such as pillars,
boulders and caves. Some might say that the wheel is directly tied in with all Indian religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism
and Sikhism, as it portrays the law of dharma or the cosmic order of things.
Now it's kind of difficult to explain in a short amount of time exactly what it means,
But according to the philosopher and former president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan:
It signifies truth and virtue to move forward as the wheels denotes motion
and there's life in motion. As well as dynamism and peaceful change. I hope that's kind of like a somewhat satisfactory summary
I mean, there's a lot more that goes into it, but Eastern philosophy is so complex
and it takes too long to condense it into such a short format. Also keep in mind
they've had a ton of different flags for different Kingdoms and Empires throughout time
There were independence movement flags, and pretty much all the princely states and people groups had some kind of symbolic configuration
Too many to list, but you get the point. Now the coat of arms! Which is more like an emblem.
The image was actually taken from the sculpture of the Sarnath Lion capital built by the Indian emperor
Ashoka using a single piece of polished Sandstone. The lines are standing on a platform with yet another, Ashoka Chakra
representing truth and honesty, as well as animals like horses and bulls most likely representing strength and resilience of the people.
Underneath it all is the revered Sanskrit verse:
"Satyamev Jayate" which translates to something along the lines of "truth always wins"
"you cannot lie to yourself". Lots of philosophy and mind games when it comes to India they love that stuff whereas
I'm just like "Derr I like sandwiches". Alright, so that's about it.
You know what time it is: "Geographa- FANMAIL time!"
So quite a bit of stuff was sent, let's just jump in! First one is from Ian from Toronto Canada. Guys, okay?
You know what, guys, I have to go to Canada before this year is over because it's your 150th anniversary.
It's my duty as an American to show love to my neighbors.
In fact, you know what? I'm going to wear that shirt that Nicole sent me a couple weeks ago. Aha, here we go!
Huagh! So Canada watch out, I'm coming for you!
[Reading Letter] "Hey Paul, I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada and I've been watching your videos since the Cameroon episode."
[Opening Package] Yeah!
Tim Hortons! I've heard the legends! I've only had Tim Hortons once but it was actually in the United Arab Emirates [laughs]
David from Armenia!
[Opening Package] cool!
[Reading Letter] "Hey, Paul, my name is David. I was born in Los Angeles, but I live in Yerevan Armenia.
I watch your videos all the time your video on France was my favorite.
I'm sending you some souvenirs from Armenia" Of course, a little Armenian flag, the Armenian alphabet,
Armenia Keychain, a little magnet, a pen with the alphabet on it, a wooden Armenian cross. Oh that's so cool
It's a wristband with some petroglyphic designs.
Got some really cool postcards! José from Guadalajara, Luis who was from the UK, but sent this from Rostov Germany, Maro
that sent this from Vancouver, Now this is really cool. This is from Akaroa New Zealand, however the guy who sent it, Kenji,
He's actually from New Caledonia! Dude I've actually been to this area
It's like one of the world's most jagged peninsulas. when I was in Christchurch
We crossed the tunnel and I went to Littleton
Which is like right here, but you live like right over here! I kinda want to go back to New Zealand!
Thanks to Kam from Georgia for sending me this letter and some cool facts about, Georgia.
Thanks to John for sharing your story about doing a mission trip with Colorado Haiti Project in Haiti
Teemu from Finland sends a map, a big map of the Helsinki area. The memories, the memories, THE MEMORIES!
They're coming back and yes, it's absolutely true. Everybody there is naked all the time 24/7 eleven. This is from Reishi from
Ellicott City Maryland. Oh wow! What is this? Oh look at that, how appropriate! I'm guessing you're from India. Hey Barb's, my name is Rishi
I am from Ellicott City, Maryland, but my family is of Indian descent and I would like to send you some cultural items
I got from there. and his brother Jeeva wrote another letter and drew some pictures. Oh my gosh
Look at this beautiful like gold colored plate thing and it's like a peacock? like a little wooden elephant. Okay
You know what? I'm gonna give these to my mom. She's probably really gonna love these. Thank you guys so much, India rocks!
I can't quite read your name, Jerry? Some guy somebody from Singapore, SINGAPORE! yeah, all these people from places
I've been to it's like memory lane! Oh, yeah
I know what this is! The Singapore flag! Oh, and a Hong Kong flag. "My name is Jenny
Oh, Jenny, and I've been subscribed to you since the Armenia video.
I was born to a Hong Kong father and a Singapore mother. That explains the flags.
I've also sent you some Singaporean and pastries! Gem biscuits from the 1960s what?! I did not see these when I was in Singapore!
Okay, so green is my favorite color, so I'm going to try the green one.
It's a little dry, but you know, its pleasant. whoa
Whoa! Jenny Drew an entire
European country balls map. Even the detail on the Spanish flag, look at that! You put so much effort into this, I'm putting this on my wall!
Okay, that deserves to be on the wall. Yes, I'm wearing pretty short shorts.
And this is from, Giuliano from Brazil! We seem to be getting more stuff from Brazilians these days.
I don't know, I guess someone spread the word. "Hey Barb's, my name is Giuliano
I am a student in São José?
[Speaking in French]
The French.
[Speaking in French]
"Okay enough French I'll stop there."
"There are so many cool places in Brazil can you explain
How each state is different like the one you did with the US a long time ago?"
See Giuliano, I would love to but I don't feel like I have enough knowledge on the differences between each states
So if I do that, I would need you guys the Brazilians to help me.
Maybe I could do that if you guys want to help me out with that video
Uh hit me up if you're Brazilian! Alright Daniel from West Virginia. "What's up Barb's? I'm from West, Virginia
I wanted to send you a few things from my state in my travels. In this package is a piece of coal mined in the
State, and I've also included some of mimosa seeds which fold up when you touch the leaves
What the? You sent me seeds?! am I supposed to plant these? Know what Daniel? I will plant these!
I want to see what they look like! Maybe in a couple months when they grow well
we'll see what they look like. I'm surprised you sent me seeds though isn't there some kind of
agriculture law against that I don't know, maybe maybe not.
[Singing] "Country road, take me home, to the place, where I belong! West Virginia!
By John Denver! not Cash. I'm sorry I got that wrong last time. Alright guys, so this was fun
you know the drill before we go
I take all of your return addresses put in a bag then I pick one and whoever wins
Gets a little gifts from me. Alright, so I'm just going to pick one out last week someone from Quebec won.
So here we go. I'm not going to look, I'm going to look, I'm just going to pick one,
I'm going to pick a big one this time. Last time I chose a small one. It is cardboard,
Daniel from Georgia!
You just won. So that's it guys, this was pretty fun. Thank you for just keeping the interaction
I love interacting with you guys. It's great. I love reading your emails and everything. You guys make the show great
So thank you. I guess that's about it. You've just been flagged stay cool stay tuned
[Outro music with whistling over ukulele]