In 1947, the National Flag became a national icon, but the common man was kept away from it. He could hoist it on two days only - Independence Day and Republic Day. The flag held no attachment for him, more so because many, who had criminal cases against them, were flying it on their cars just because they were ministers.
Sometime in the mid-1990s, MP Naveen Jindal won the right for the common man to hoist the flag every day, subject to certain rules. By then, the common man cared little: The Tricolour was found on roads and even in gutters after a mandatory or imposed celebration.
A possible reason for political parties to show scant respect to the Tricolour is because it resembles the Congress party flag. Is it time to change our flag or better still, frame a rule that no political party can have a flag with the same colours and design as the National Flag?
The same is the case with the National Anthem. It is often remixed like a Bollywood number. Some sing it as if they were participating in a funeral march. There can be only one way to sing the National Anthem. The code that it has to be sung within 52 seconds is not followed rigorously.
Let's start now. It will take one generation to get the respect we expect.
T R Ramaswami Mumbai
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