A Matter of Pride

Another January 26th beckons the citizens of India this year. From my childhood, I have had good memories of all these days of national importance-except the one in 2001 when Gujarat was affected by an earthquake. It had always been a very proud moment to bear the national flag on the shirt. Eventhough I never understood why people get to wear them only on two days roughout the year, the feeling was quite great. Any kid without a flag on his shirt was looked at as someone without patriotic instincts. Once my uncle had even arranged for a private flag-hoisting ceremony at his terrace, and I was only overjoyed to witness the hoisting from a better, closer position. Coming back home and watching the procession of the troops in the RAJPATH, Delhi was a great event every year. I would very carefully keep the flag back in a secure place such that I could wear it everyday though it never happened.

But, views and view-points have changed. Last year, as I walked down one of the important streets-infact, the main road- of our area, and saw the tricolour flag down the drain! Yes- hard to believe, but true. First, I took great care in not walking on the flag and succeeded. But, once I walked a few paces, I was dumbstruck by the reality of the situation. There was this flag-the one which your forefathers and freedom fighters loved and died to prevent the flag from falling down-dipped in drainage water. I walked back, picked it up from that 'unhygenic' scene and brought it home.

Most of us remain only as fair-weather partriots. Be it Naveen Jindal who claimed his rights to have the National flag hoisted in his office, or the cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar who insisted on having the Tri-colour on his helmet-as a part of his cricket gear, there have been only a few who have taken up this issue seriously. How many of us remember the instance when director Mani ratnam was questioned for shooting a scene where it seems as though the Indian flag is burnt? None noted down the fact that it wasn't actually the flag which was shown. One could clearly sense that the Indian flag was burnt by the terrorist by the background score and the rage of the protagonist who was ready to burn himself in order to save the flag.



One welcome change this year has been brought about by Shuba Raul, the Mayor of Mumbai by requesting the Mumbaikars to abstain from using flags made out of plastic. The Mayor has given clearance only to flags made out of cloth or paper. This order, http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/mayor-urges-mumbaikars-to-shun-plastic-flags-this-republic-day/414958/though issued from an ec0-friendly environmental intention, is one to be appreciated.

Why isn't there a system to monitor such acts of insults to the National flag? Can anyone see this happening in other countries? Should people be constantly reminded of the instance when the Puerto-Rican government condemned the act of insult by a famous Pop-star for using the country's flag on her body parts during a stage show? The flag-code of India says that the flag cannot be dipped in anything, must not be let touch the ground or water and most importantly, should never be burnt. But how are they taking actions to monitor, charge and penalise the persons doing such things? I wish there is a keen supervision of this Republic day and that there is some sort of a message passed on to the general public about the respect for the tricolour flag. I'll try to keep a count of the number of flags which are strewn on the ground tomorrow. I hope there are none at least from the next year, 2010. Jai Hind!