The Tiranga, our national tricolor, is something that fills every Indian’s heart with pride. It is not just a flag – it is a symbol of our freedom, our unity, and the countless sacrifices made by our brave soldiers to protect its honor. Many courageous men have laid down their lives, giving their everything, just so that the Tiranga can continue to fly high.
But today, I ask myself – are we truly respecting that sacred flag? The answer is a loud and clear no. Absolutely not.
I have seen the Tiranga placed on the body of a martyr soldier. I have seen a daughter holding that same Tiranga close to her heart – a daughter whose father gave his life for the nation. That sight is not just powerful; it becomes an emotion deep inside me. I don’t just respect the Tiranga, I feel connected to it with all my heart.
Sadly, it seems that our patriotism is only visible on 15th August and 26th January – our Independence Day and Republic Day. But what about the other days of the year? Where does that patriotism go on 16th August or 27th January? On those days, we see the same Tiranga, our national pride, lying dirty, torn, or neglected in many places.
Every organization – be it government or private – seems to look at the Tiranga only on those two special days. After that, what happens to our flag? What condition is it kept in? It is a shameful sight that makes me question our identity as Indians. How can we, who have been taught to salute the flag with respect, let it become so dirty and torn? How can we forget the sacrifices of mothers who lost their sons, of soldiers who gave everything, only to see their symbol of pride treated like this?
Today, I am angry. Today, I write with anger in my heart because tears fill my eyes. Today, pain pours out from my soul, because I saw the Tiranga – once shining on the body of a martyr, once held with love by a soldier’s daughter – lying dirty and torn.
That flag, which taught me the meaning of honor, that flag I consider a part of my faith, today was in a condition so heartbreaking that I could no longer hold back my voice.
Has our tricolor become so forgotten, so neglected, that we no longer even remember to care for it?
When I saw that flag fluttering in one institution (Degree College), it did not bring me joy. Instead, it brought sadness – deep sorrow. Because I felt the silent voices of all the martyrs telling me:
“Was this the value of our sacrifice?
Was this the respect our blood deserved?
We gave our lives for this nation and its flag,
and now it lies neglected.”
It is time for us to awaken.
It is time to remember that our Tiranga is not just a piece of cloth – it is the blood, sweat, and tears of countless heroes.
I felt a deep sorrow when I saw the Indian National Flag – the Tiranga in one institution. The sight was heartbreaking. The flag was torn, so dirty that it was visible from a distance, and the pole on which it was hoisted was bent and crooked. What made it even more painful was that this was a place where we learn discipline – where we are taught the true value of our nation’s soldiers, and the respect we owe to our tricolor.
When I saw the flag in such a condition, my heart wept.
Perhaps, this is not a huge topic for many people… but how can I ever forget that this is the very same flag that flew at the top of the peaks during the Kargil War in 1999, after the sacrifice of 527 brave soldiers.
This is the same flag that brings tears to the eyes of a mother when she remembers her martyred son. This is the same flag that a daughter holds close to her heart, thinking of the father she lost.
According to our Constitution and the Flag Code of India, and under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, it is a punishable offense if the national flag is found dirty, torn, or improperly displayed in a Government College or any public place.
The law says the punishment can be:
- Up to 3 years of imprisonment, or
- A fine, or
- Both.
Yet, the real truth is deeper than laws and punishments. We will never truly respect our Tiranga from the heart unless we make it our emotion, unless it becomes part of who we are.
For example, if we ever saw our religious flag – torn or dirty – we would immediately replace it, because it is closely connected to our feelings, our faith, and our identity.
But somehow, when it comes to the Tiranga – our national pride – we don’t treat it the same way.
If we truly respected the flag, it wouldn’t wave crookedly.
If we truly loved the flag, it wouldn’t be so dirty.
If we truly felt its importance, it wouldn’t be torn.
The Tiranga is not just a piece of cloth. It is the symbol of every sacrifice, every struggle, and every tear shed by our soldiers for the nation’s honor.
The government has clearly said that the Indian National Flag – the Tiranga must be displayed in every government and public place.
It is mandatory.
But somehow, the government has made it so ordinary that now, no one pays real attention to it anymore.
Yes, the government says that the flag should always be hoisted, but the government must also ensure that the flag is always neat, clean, and properly displayed.
I ask this simple yet important question:
If in a college, every corner, every classroom, and every corridor can be cleaned every day, if cleanliness is taken care of regularly, why is the same care not given to the national flag?
I remember seeing Paratrooper Siddhant Chettri taking his last breath, and in that moment, I understood the true identity of the Tiranga – the flag for which every soldier is ready to give their life.
But sadly, perhaps we are forgetting our responsibilities. In the very place where children learn discipline, where they are taught the value of the nation, where they are taught to respect our soldiers… Everything is maintained well, except the Tiranga.
Let me tell you what the Tiranga really is:
It is the flag for which a soldier wants to give his life.
It is the same flag that a mother holds close to her heart after the martyrdom of her son.
It is the flag that waves because of the breath of every soldier who defends the nation.
It is the flag that makes us feel – our soldiers are with us.
It is the sacred shroud, the KAFAN, which brings tears to our eyes every time we see it.
If we understand this much emotion, why don’t we take care of it?
Next time, go and witness the final journey of a martyr soldier, and you will understand why the Tiranga is so special – why it deserves our utmost respect.
The government must realize this:
Wherever the Indian National Flag is displayed, whether it is a government office, a public place, or an educational institution, it must be treated with respect, dignity, and honor. If the flag is used in educational institutions – which are the places where students learn values, discipline, and patriotism – it is extremely important to ensure that the flag is always clean, untorn, and properly displayed on time. Because if even educational institutions fail to take care of the flag, what message will they send to the youth?
That the symbol of our freedom and sacrifice does not deserve respect?
Let us always remember:
Freedom is not free.
It is bought with the blood of soldiers.
And the Tiranga is the true motivation of our defenders.
So respect it, always.
Jai Hind
