IIn the 75th year of India’s independence, the Indian citizen has been formally and finally entrusted with the personal responsibility to respect and protect the dignity of the national flag. Although the right to fly the flag was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2002, two recent revisions To flag code It has expanded its scope in terms of time and availability. Earlier it was allowed to be hoisted only between sunrise and sunset and had to be made from Khadi. Now, the flag can be flown at any time and can be machine made of cotton, polyester, wool or silk.
The steps of the Narendra Modi government are included in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign which is part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Its objective is to encourage people to hoist the national flag at their homes to mark the 75th year of India’s independence. It aims to invoke higher feelings of patriotism and promote greater awareness of the national flag.
Media reports indicate that the central government is mass performance targeting In 20 crore households across the country. Flags are being sold from 1.6 lakh post offices. Other flag manufacturers such as Khadi units, Self Help Groups and organizations in the small and medium sectors will also be selling them. Actually, there is a list of sellers with contact names and mobile numbers available on the campaign website. The scale of the attempted mobilization for the period between 13 and 15 August 2022 is remarkable. But there is also an ideological shift from the collective to the individual platform.
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maintain the tricolor
Until now, on special occasions, as part of a public function, Indians gathered around the tricolour, participated in ceremonial procedures and instilled a sense of patriotism within themselves. They will still continue to do so. But with the amendment to the flag code, some Indian houses will fly the flag forever and may stand out in the category of ‘flag houses’. However, it would not be surprising if the initial enthusiasm did not outweigh the logistics and costs involved in maintaining the standards required by the Flag Code, which explicitly states that a damaged and disorganized flag should not be displayed and must be placed at a location. should be captured respectfully and kept conspicuously. Violation may attract provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act 1971 and can be punished with rigorous imprisonment of up to three years.
It appears that only the affluent will be able to fulfill the stipulated conditions. For starters, the white stripe that symbolizes truth and peace is easily tainted not only by the vagaries of weather and nature, but also by the high levels of pollution that pervade much of India. From time to time, if not infrequently, replacements will be needed that only a few can afford. Also, most of the Indians live in flats/huts/howls/huts which may not fulfill the status of a flag being placed at a place of honor and uniquely.
There may be push for individuals to hoist the flag so that it symbolizes inequality and deepens it. For a flag that unites people under a common purpose, it will be shameful if it serves to highlight inequality. It is not that economic and social elite should not exist in Indian society. But their circumstances, which give them the ability to fly the flag uniquely placed in their upper-class homes, may not make for a display of a level of patriotism. This was highly avoidable in an India that focuses its major energies and resources on lifting millions out of poverty, poor health and illiteracy. The challenge is compounded as efforts have to be directed while being vulnerable to climate change.
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Climate impact and settlement
Now that machine-made polyester flags are permitted, it is likely to become more popular due to their price competitiveness and ease of manufacture. But it’s worth remembering that the process of making T-shirts from polyester emits more than twice as much carbon as those made from cotton. If the polyester flag industry becomes popular, India’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the fight against climate change could take a hit.
Since the call to hoist flags in homes is fully endorsed by the Prime Minister, Indian homes can be expected to be lit up with flags of all sizes between August 13 and 15. What happens after most of those 200 million flags wither away is another aspect that needs to be considered. According to the Flag Code, the flag should not be thrown aside or disposed of disrespectfully, but must be completely destroyed personally, preferably by burning it or in any other manner commensurate with the dignity of the flag.
Most of those who must dispose of their flags as quickly as possible will be challenged to burn it privately or do so in some other way. If the societal norms prevalent in much of our society are an indicator, one might expect that the flags thrown could possibly find their way covertly into the garbage disposal system. Some will find simple utility inside homes with the conviction that the government has no access to ascertain the level of violations.
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think through campaign
The scale of the dissemination of the national flag would make it almost impossible for law and order agencies to deal with violations. On the other hand, false allegations can easily be made and evidence can be used to harass political rivals. Also, people who do not hoist the flag can be labeled ‘anti-national’ by their political opponents. Officially, of course, Indian citizens have only been ‘encouraged’ to hoist the tricolor. The national flag dissemination campaign could be in jeopardy and the potential for discord is obvious.
Perhaps it is too late to slow down the pace of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. But it’s not too late to launch a public information campaign that advises and builds facilities for flag disposal. Also, the Modi government should consider returning after August 15, 2022 to discourage the practice of ‘day-night’ flag hoisting. Let the recent amendments stand as one-off resolutions on the occasion of the 75th Independence anniversary. Long live would be imprudent and blind to the realities of India.
In the field of public policy, one must distinguish between doctrinal and teleological national ethics. The first focuses on objectives and means and the second on ends and results. Telelogical approach should be given priority in the context of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. In any case, the spirit of patriotism lies in the minds of the citizens, and not in the inert fabric of the flag. Symbolism should not be mistaken for matter.
Lt Gen (Dr) Prakash Menon (Retd) Director, Strategic Studies Programme, Taxila Institute; Former Military Adviser, National Security Council Secretariat. He tweeted @prakashmenon51. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Srinjoy Dey)