A flag is not for joking - The Daily
Editorial
()
12 May 1997
Title : A flag is not for joking
Author : Editorial
Publication : The Daily
Date : May 12, 1997
A flag, any flag is not to be taken lightly. especially when it concerns a flag
of a regiment or a nation. Whole companies of the finest of man have laid down
their lives in any number of battles to uphold the honour and pride of the colours
of their regiment. This pride is multiplied a million times over when it comes to
the colours on the flag of a country. The Indian Scour is no exception to this
rule. Ever since in 1929 when the tricolours was first conceived hundreds of
thousands of freedom fighters preferred the brutality of the British regime to
uphold the position of the tricolour rather than bow before the British Union
Jack. Let it be remembered that the m movement had its origins also in the
symbolic burning of the British Union Jack which came to embody for generations of
freedom fighters the tyranny and persecution of British imperialism.
Therefore When a group of people protest against the flying of a simple club flag
which incorporates the same Union Jack and the Queens emblem we must understand
that they are only echoing the sentiments felt by Indians from all, walks of life
who have seen and felt the brutality of the imperialist regime. Such a protest is
not to be taken lightly. Merely saying that such attitudes should not gain wide
currency in this day and age is to adopt the attitude of an Ostrich, effectively
denying die very existence of patriotism . Patriotism may well be the last resort
of some scoundrels but here in the controversy involving the Royal Bombay Yacht
Club that is definitely not the case. It is said in sonic quarters that even
diplomatic missions and their counsel generals fly the flags of their countries.
Therefore the Yacht Club's flag with the imperialist emblem should be regarded in
the same light. First the club is not the representative of a foreign nation.
Second it is now an Indian club and third, just for the record all Indian
regiments prior to 1947 had the Union Jack and in some cases the gown incorporated
in their flags. Net sooner did we gain independence then new colours were
presented to these very regiments in keeping with the fact that India was now an
Independent nation.
Nostalgia for the raj is all right so far as it goes but still to fly the lack as
if one is still being ruled from London is to mock at nationalist sentiments and
show contempt for the patriotism of all those who had fought against the same
flag. Again, just for the record, when the last British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten
had presented his own design of what the Indian National Flag should look like and
had placed a small. Union Jack in the corner of the tricolour the reaction from
not only Jawaharlal Nehru but every other leader cutting across party lines had
been to reject it outright. This was because these leaders believed as we, do now
that this country has an history. an origin stretching back across thousands of
years and does not need the crutch of an imperialist ledger to take its rightful
place in the assembly of nations.
