Patriotic frenzy over?

Most people are ignorant of ways of disposing of used national flags, causing unintentional insult

By Amrita Das

All of us celebrate the Independence Day and the Republic Day with great fanfare. But what follows is a very sorry sight. Most children, who are very enthusiastic about waving flags at the flag hoisting ceremony, get tired of it after a while and throw away the flag on the streets, to get trampled and driven upon.
The main culprit here is the abysmal level of awareness. Most people have no clue of what to do with the flag once it has been used. Utkarsh Jauhari, student of Amity, says, "Our school had once organised a workshop, and this why I know how to dispose it of." Freedom fighters are known to sacrifice their lives to protect the flag and to keep it flying high. But many of us forget this when in high spirits. Lieutenant Arpit Atreya says, "There is universal affection and respect for the National Flag. Yet, a perceptible lack of awareness is often noticed, not only amongst the common man, but even amongst people like me, who work in the Army, but don't know about ways to dispose of the flag after it gets torn or mutilated. Many times, I have found them lying in the garbage dumps and the sight is horrible."
Ali Anwar, JD(U) MP, and national president of Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj, an organisation for backward Muslims says, "There are various acts and codes that clearly enunciate ways of use and disposal of our National Flag, but the common man is ignorant about them. Moreover, manufacturing plastic flags is illegal and the government should put a check on it." On what he feels should be done he says, "Deviation from norms should be dealt with sternly."
Few of us know that only Karnataka Khadi Gramadyog Samyuktha Sangha in Hubli, is authorised by the government to make flags according to the specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards. But, there are numerous small industries that are cashing in on by manufacturing plastic, paper and cloth flags. A manufacturer, Rajesh Aggarwal, Chhagan Lal & Sons, Rajasthan says, "After looking at the condition of the plastic flags after the event is over, we have decided to stop manufacturing plastic flags. Instead, we would be manufacturing paper flags and flag made of cloth which can be easily recycled and is eco-friendly." At how he feels when he sees the flags lying on roads he says, "It is a pathetic sight. Many people don't know how to dispose of a flag. We at our factory use the excess flags next year. The defective flags are buried with due respect according to the Flag Code of India."
The vendors are also clueless. "No, I don't know how to dispose them. I have never heard about ways to dispose it. I feel people should not throw them away and keep it even if it gets torn," quips Anil, a vendor, who sells such flags at the Delhi-UP border. RN Mehra, a self-employed consultant, says, "The plastic flag tears apart quickly, but that does not mean that we can throw it away on the street. We get angry when we see the same thing on TV. But, we do it twice every year in our own country, simply because we are ignorant of the ways of disposing of them."
It's quite clear that the percentage of 'unaware' far exceeds the percentage of the people who 'know' what should be done. "I feel schools and organisations should organise more such seminars to make the common man aware of how to protect our flag's sanctity. The government and NGOs can also invent ways of collecting the flags on the very next day."
ACCORDING TO THE LAW...
According to Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, whoever in any place within public view burns, tramples upon or shows disrespect to the Indian National Flag, shall be punished with 3 years jail or fine, or with both. When the Flag is in a damaged condition, it should be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by burying with due respect.