Patriotism on Sale

Come August and January every year and we find patriotism on ‘sale’. Every traffic signal has hoards of children pestering vehicle owners and passer-by to purchase a national flag or similar products depicting the tri-colour. This is very peculiar to our country. I have never seen such a ‘sale’ in the second largest democracy in the world.

Do we really need to sell patriotism? Perhaps ‘yes’, in our democracy. There is a huge market flooded with buyers. There are many who buy it twice a year, in August and January, just like observing fast on Ashadhi (आषाढी) and Kartiki (कार्तिकी)  Ekadashi (एकादशी).  Some need to buy it to display patriotism. They have to show it to others to get appreciation from them. It’s like observing a day’s fast to wash out sins. Many a times I find when hard core non-vegetarians are forced to adapt vegetarian meals or to observe fast during some religious events, they wait eagerly for the fasting period to be over so that they can bounce back on their favourite meals/meats. Likewise many unpatriotic activities conducted during January to August period can be washed away on August 15^th under the grab of patriotism and August to January sins can be washed on Republic Day.

The patriotism should be displayed by some long-term philanthropic activities. Distribution of fruits or sweets to patients or prisoners once or twice a year is not enough. Year round activities to alleviate the pain of patients can be more desirable. Reforming the prisoners on long term basis is also laudable. How can display of national flag on shirt or car dashboard be termed as patriotism? How can the crispy white cap be a symbol of patriotism? Can these and similar be the real parameters of patriotism? No one can buy or sell patriotism. It has to come from within. It has to be in one’s character. Will the politicians engaged in scams ever understand this. For them perhaps a twice a year display is enough. It has rather become a ritual. A political ritual in independent India.

The flags are bought or sold for display of patriotism. No one is bothered to look into Flag Code. The design and manufacturing process for the national flag is regulated by three documents issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), but does anyone really bothers? Originally only Khadi was to be used for the flags, either cotton or silk, and that too in a count of 150 threads per centimetre. Any violation of protocols, guidelines for manufacture or display or use are punishable by law with imprisonment up to three years, or a fine, or both. Unfortunately it is observed that a day after the Independence Day, many flags and those that are bought for display of patriotism are not disposed as per the guidelines given in Flag Code of India. We must respect the flag.Independence Day is round the corner. Please give a thought before you buy a flag. 

The national flag must get the respect and if you can do that then only buy a flag, that too the one that conforms to the guidelines of BIS. Patriotism that’s within needs no means for display. 

Jai Hind.