Friday, March 29, 2024
 
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Story of ‘Flag ‘ –revealed layer by layer




By B L Saraf


Flag is a piece of cloth raised as mark of county’s standard or a signal . It has a story which can be told many ways . Flag represents courage , fortitude and perseverance .But sometimes it is raised as a symbol of rebellion and defiance . Flag is present everywhere , for every occasion . Generally , it is hoisted in pride : on occasions it is lowered in protest . Depending on the situation , raising and lowering of the Flag can be a cause head ache . Flag is always in the global news . However , in 2015 it has been so, rather , frequently .


In our state we have a unique story of the flag . Two flags fly side by side on all public buildings , identified , respectively , with state and the country . Some ultra nationalists – on relapsed nationalistic impulse - occasionally raise objection to the presence of state flag alongside the national tricolor . They momentarily forget that exixtence of both of them is sanctioned by the constitutions of J&K and the Union of India . In no way does presence of the state flag impinge on the centre – state relations , or, dilute state’s integration with the Union . Sometime back the present government declared its intention to minimize the visibility of the State flag in public . Hell broke out in the Valley’s political circles . National Conference spotted an opportunity to register its presence which the 2014 elections had obliterated , a bit .Omar Abdullah took the streets holding State flag high in the hands . The knowledgeable read this more as an opportunity to resurrect the party flag - which the last Assembly election had caused to fly ‘ half mast’ than for love of the state flag .




Then , we had the story of Pak flag appearing in the sky of Kashmir which gave a severe head ache to the authorities . A prominent separatist , on release from custody , waved it in love for the “ God’s own Country .” Before he could express more love , the flag of that country saw him pushed back to where he belonged – the prison . Waving of neighboring flag is a red rag to the nationalist . Some call it an act of sedition . It is not so . Sedition , in its colonial meaning, has lost the criminal sting – at least in the spirit of law . Flags of all countries fly high everywhere . We have seen Pakistan game enthusiasts waving Indian flags in the cricket stadia of that country . It is true of the Indian fans also , who flaunt the Pak flag in a game when Pakistan plays here . Sometimes , it is better not to wear nationalism so thin . Love of the sectarian flag has caught the votaries of fundamentalism, in Kashmir , on the wrong foot when flag of much despised ISIS appeared in the Valley . Its dreadful sight put shivers down the spine of many in Kashmir so much that their love for the flags almost dried up . ISIS may be a coveted commodity in the god forsaken corners of Africa and West Asia , certainly people in Kashmir have no love lost for it .



America , also , has been bitten by the flag bug . Remember last week’s South Carolina bloody carnage where a white American youth gunned down dozens of African- Americans in a Charleston Church . Dylan Roof who sprayed bullets on the helpless blacks , was , earlier , seen waving the Confederate Flag . We may recall that on elevation of Abraham Lincoln as the President of America in 1861 , South Carolina state, along with ten other states, seceded from the Union to form Confederate states of America . This was in opposition to the policies of anti- slavery Republican Party . The Confederate States adopted their own “ Stars and Bars “ flag . Which till dated is considered a symbol of White Supremacy – a sign of segregated past .The flag is currently flying high in front of the State House building in Columbia , the capitol of South Carolina . Outrage is growing against this slavery – era Confederate flag . There is a cry to move the flag from the capitol grounds . In the ensuing American Presidency election the removal of flag is turning out to be a major issue .



As if not done with local flag raising – moving problems , India seems to have entered the Confederate flag controversy , courtesy , its ex - citizen - now upcoming American politicians - South Carolina Governor Nikki Halley and two time Louisiana Governor , Bobby Jindal . Nimrata Randhawa - popularly known as Nikki Halaey – a first Indian – American to serve as governor of South Carolina is dead set to get the Confederate flag moved out of the capitol building . Bobby Jindal , who unlike Haley , hates to be called Indian – American and has renounced the Indian heritage and religion - has taken no position on the issue . However , being evangelical and hard core republican Jindal’s preference , in this regard , is fairly well known . Jindal , we must know , is hoping for a Republican ticket to the American Presidency , in 2016 .


Republicans want the Confederate flag moved out . More than that they will have to take racial hatred out of the hearts of most of the White supremacists . Similarly, the people who don’t want alien flag waved in the Valley must show a concern about the cause which allows for such a development to happen .


(B L Saraf is former Principal District & Sessions Judge. Feedback- [email protected])





(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)



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