Aug Newsletter of .IN - Independence Days - Page 2

The Indian National Flag is the symbol of national sprit. It represents the sacrifice of those people who have laid down their lives for the cause of independent India. It represents the sufferings of people who have faced torture, torment and imprisonment during the long freedom struggle.

With such blazing examples of nationalistic spirit and fervour the question is: Can we allow our current generation to show disrespect to our flag?

With August 15, round the corner once again the tri-colour will be proudly displayed in schools, housing societies and other establishments.

Sadly, by evening we find the same flags strewn all over the roads and by lanes. The very people who carried it with pride and honour now unintentionally cause disrespect as they thoughtlessly discard it and stamp it under their feet.

Troubled by this thought a few socially committed ladies from the Lioness Club of Vasant Vihar in Chembur have come forward to install special boxes at prominent public places in our suburb so that citizens can drop the national flags here.

Mala Shetty, the Club President speaking to CG Plus says, "I was inspired after reading a notice distributed in schools by an organisation called HUM. I got in touch with them to start the campaign in our suburb because I wanted to support this cause. When I expressed the idea to our club members they also liked the concept."

HUM is a Mulund based organisation which has been creating awareness about the national flag in the local schools for several years. Rajesh Ingle and Hemant Bapat, representatives from HUM who are now guiding these ladies say, "It is for the first time we are taking this concept to another eastern suburb." The duos are also against the use of plastic flags. "The symbolic flag is now available in plastic and it is very popular because it does not wilt in the rains. Though waterproof it is insulting and demeaning the Flag, because as per the Flag Code of India, there is no provision for usage of plastic in the manufacture of the symbolic national flag.

Only cloth and paper is to be used. Further the code states that a flag has to be bound from all four sides. In the case of plastic flags it is generally observed that a flag is often stapled against a cheap straw used for sipping cold drinks therefore they resemble a carry bag. These plastic flags also lack the vertical stiffness as they are not glued to a wooden stick. A new trend this year is the strings of small flags woven together upside down like a toran," inform the members of HUM who are also in touch with officials from the State Government, trying to impose a ban on plastic flags.

The committed ladies from the Lioness Club are also strongly against the use of plastic flags. "Rain or no rain plastics are non-biodegradable. We are doing our bit by spreading the message among the citizens to opt for paper flags this year," states Uma Nagpal.

Members of HUM also dispose the flags nicely by burying them after singing the national anthem. The Chembur ladies who have tied up with this organisation are still undecided regarding the disposal part. "This is our first year, so we have made a small beginning by installing collection boxes. Probably after the event we will hand over the collected flags to HUM," states Manisha Torat.

Flags can reveal a nation's past struggle and future aspirations. We at CG Plus support these ladies in their National Flag awareness drive. If you see flags strewn all over the road, or housing colony, pick them up and drop them at the below mentioned venues. Do not humiliate your national flag by carelessly discarding it. Do not buy plastic flag for your children.