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 of 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 existence 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. 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 sight put shivers down the spine of many in Kashmir and affected their love for the flags. ISIS may be a coveted commodity in the god forsaken corners of Africa and West Asia, 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 date 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.
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 Jindal’s preference, in this regard , is fairly well known. Jindal is hoping for a Republican ticket to the 2016 American Presidency.
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.
P.S : Former Pakistan Chief Justice added new dimension to the flag story. Next day after General Ayub Khan took over, in 1958 and declared Martial Law, C J found flag missing from his official Car ; on enquiry he was told of new Military fiat which restrained civilian and judicial authorities from flying flag on their vehicles. On hearing this the CJ remarked in Urdu ” Haan bhai ab toa dande kaa raaj hay, jhande kaa kya kaam.” -brother, danda (stick) rule has set in, Jhanda ( flag ) must give in.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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