The Tiranga or the Tricolour, always evokes a feeling of pride and respect in all of us who were born and brought up in this wonderful motherland called Bharat. Every year around this time (15th August -Independence Day), as I drive to work along the Bandra Reclamation promenade, I am delighted to see the Tiranga at full mast and fluttering in the sea-winds. And during this drive-past, whilst saluting our national flag, some memories and thoughts regarding my other encounters with the Tiranga surface….
Driving past the Tiranga on the Bandra Reclamation promenade
Hoisting the Tiranga
In 2016, I went to Imphal, Manipur for a Conference lecture and had the opportunity to visit the nearby headquarters of Indian National Army (INA) in Moirang. On April 14th, 1944, the tricolour was first hoisted on the liberated Indian soil here by Colonel Malik.
Whilst discussing with my local hosts, I was aghast to learn that the Manipuri people hardly celebrated Independence Day or Republic Day as they were not allowed by the then banned outfits, who virtually dictated the state’s life. No school, public place, private institution would dare to display the national colours. Hindi was banned; Hindi movies were not allowed in movie theatres and in school textbooks, the national anthem cannot be printed.
My visit to INA headquarters in Moirang in 2016
Moirang landscape 2016
Fortunately, the situation changed some years back. A 165 feet tall Indian National Flag, tallest in Northeast, has now been installed at the newly constructed INA Headquarter Complex in Moirang and a tricolour was recently hoisted on a 100 ft tall pole at the Imphal Airport.
New INA headquarters in Moirang
But as I write this, I gather that the Corcom (Coordination Committee) of banned outfits has announced a total shutdown in the state from 1:00 AM to 6:30 PM on August 15 and urged residents of Manipur to hoist black flags in place of the national tricolor, symbolically designating the day as a “black day” to express their dissent.
Notwithstanding the grim socio-political situation in Manipur, I hope people will participate in the Independence Day celebrations and hoist the Tricolour. I also wish peace and prosperity for the Manipuris.
Foisting the Tiranga?
Many a times I get an ambivalent feeling when I standup before a movie show in a theatre. India is probably the only country where such a thing happens before you see any movie. Is this a good thing to do? Do we really need to foist the Tiranga onto our people when they are in a different type of a mood. I have at times enjoyed singing along as the national Anthem is being played – because being able to do so is a rarity for us seniors, as we go along our busy lives.
But all said and done, I think we should abandon this pseudo-nationalist practice of foisting the Tiranga before every movie show. The mandatory direction to play national anthem in movie halls was withdrawn by the Supreme Court on January 2018, but the practice continues. Has this ritual really changed anything at all?
And I find it ironical that the mainstream Bollywood movie that I see after I have paid respects to the tricolour, is predominantly shot in foreign locales.
The National Anthem being played in Movie theatres before the movie.
Feisting the Tiranga
Yet another place where the Tiranga is not hoisted nor foisted but is feisted, is in cricket stadia by fans who are cheering and celebrating the Indian team. Feisting the Tiranga can be a joyful lively and energetic act. However, it should not cross the thin dividing line between being energetic and being forceful and aggressive.
I have always admired how in foreign countries, Indians settled there can feel free to feist the tricolour even though they are permanent residents of the foreign land. But when anyone feists the Pakistani flag during a cricket match in India, we get provoked. Such acts have even led to avoidable violence.
Cricket fans feisting the Tricolour at a cricket match
Lastly, I would only say that we are proud of our Tiranga and everything that it stands for. So, let’s Hoist, responsibly Feist but never Foist the Tiranga. Our Tricolour commands respect, there is no need to demand it. Of course no one need insult it.
Happy Independence Day to all our readers!
