### Safeguarding the Dignity of the National Flag

*The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign must not meet the same fate as the Swachh Bharat Mission.*

It is equally essential to educate every citizen on the dignity and respect that the national flag deserves.

There was a time when strict laws governed the hoisting and lowering of India’s national flag, the Tricolor. Hoisting the flag after sunset was strictly prohibited. Every day, police and military personnel would ceremoniously hoist the flag on government buildings in the morning and lower it with respect before sunset. Even today, the traditional retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan attracts crowds daily. Although laws still exist to penalize those who disrespect the national flag, the Indian Flag Code has undergone significant changes, primarily due to Supreme Court interventions. A large part of this credit goes to industrialist Naveen Jindal, who, inspired by the right to display national flags in foreign countries, initiated the practice of hoisting towering Tricolors 24/7 in public spaces across major Indian cities, including New Delhi.

In recent times, the sight of large and small Tricolors being waved in celebration during events like World Cup victories or other moments of national pride has become common, with people parading them even late into the night.

Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, several initiatives have been launched to popularize the national flag. One such initiative is the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, introduced on July 22, 2022, to mark the 75th anniversary of India's independence. This campaign aims to encourage citizens to display the flag at their homes, offices, and public spaces as an expression of their love and respect for the nation. Another goal of the campaign is to foster patriotism and a sense of nationalism among the people.

The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign also seeks to raise awareness about the flag’s significance, promote pride in national identity, and celebrate the achievements and progress made since independence.

This year, the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign will be celebrated as a festival from August 9 to August 15, 2024, not only across India but also in every corner of the world where Indians reside. The campaign’s core objective is to inspire every Indian citizen to hoist the national flag and instill in them a sense of patriotism and national pride. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, participants can hoist the flag at their homes, click a selfie with it, and upload it on the portal harghartiranga.com. Additionally, they can submit necessary details and an affidavit online to receive a certificate from the comfort of their homes. This campaign is part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to inspire people to bring the Tricolor home and commemorate India's independence.

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, notes that over the past two years, the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign has evolved into a mass movement. Various communities across the country have embraced this idea, participating enthusiastically both online and offline. In 2022, the national flag was hoisted at over 230 million homes, and 60 million people uploaded selfies with the flag on harghartiranga.com. In 2023, over 100 million selfies were uploaded. The campaign also received tremendous support internationally, with iconic buildings worldwide illuminated in the colors of the Indian flag and the Indian diaspora celebrating the campaign with great enthusiasm.

Shekhawat further highlighted that this year's campaign will feature a special Tricolor bike rally by Members of Parliament on August 13, starting at 8 a.m. from Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, passing through India Gate, and concluding at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.

The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign commenced on August 9, 2024, and will continue until August 15, 2024. In his recent 'Mann Ki Baat' radio program on July 28, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to continue the tradition of hoisting the Tricolor at their homes and offices and uploading selfies with the flag on social media, a practice that has seen widespread participation over the past two years.

This year, various patriotic events are being organized across different states to promote national pride. These include the India Tricolor Run, musical events based on patriotic songs, street plays to spread awareness, exhibitions on the evolution of the Tricolor, flash mobs showcasing national pride, and art competitions for youth and children to express their love for the nation.

The Ministry of Culture expressed confidence that all states and union territories will actively participate in the campaign to ensure its success.

However, it is essential to remember that the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign must not meet the same fate as the Swachh Bharat Mission. There is concern that the campaign could lose its significance, much like the cleanliness drive. In the past, it has been disheartening to see the Tricolor discarded on the streets in disrespectful conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to educate every citizen on maintaining the dignity and respect of the national flag. To prevent the flag from being disrespected, special squads of the army, police, and civil services should be deployed in every city to handle such situations during the campaign. Strict action must also be taken against those who deliberately disrespect the flag.

It remains to be seen how seriously the central and state governments will work to uphold the honor of the national flag during this campaign.