Duina Barbaruah
(dwinakashyap@gmail.com)
When other parts of the country looked forward to celebrating the country's freedom from the fetters of slavery, the Independence Day, especially the hoisting of the national flag, we, in Assam and other states of the Northeast, not long ago, remained confined within the four walls of our homes afraid to venture out fearing reprisals from the militant outfits.
It had been altogether decades when people of Assam or for other matters the North East region as a whole couldn't celebrate either Independence Day or the Republic Day under the open sky as they did not want to incur the wrath of the militant outfits by defying their call for a boycott of these events.
What a stark contrast it was seeing how the nation's capital and other parts celebrated with full gusto Independence Day or Republic Day, while Assam and other states of the region observed bandh with streets wearing deserted look and an eerie silence prevailed. Even during the official functions, the turnout of people was low. Children were very rarely seen as fear psychosis loomed large in the minds of the people, more so after the Dhemaji blast triggered by a proscribed outfit in which several innocent children lost their lives. For scores of children growing into adults, the national events of paramount importance meant nothing more than a boycott or bandh called by the militant organizations bringing things to a grinding halt.
Things started to change when Assam and the other States of the region began to come out of the deep quagmire it was in with development taking precedent over everything else under the 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Viswas' credo of the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre and other States of North East India. With the surrendering of different militant outfits following the persistent efforts of the BJP dispensation and then returning to the mainstream of these militants in the wake of the rehabilitation package, durable peace and stability returned to the region. The development plank worked wonders as it completely eroded whatever support base the militant outfits once enjoyed. The militant organizations fed on the sense of alienation among the people due to the lackadaisical and step-motherly attitude of the earlier dispensations. Assam and the Northeast that lagged began to march triumphantly on the path of development. The paradigm shift in development and the positive mindset induced by the Modi Government put Assam and other states of the Northeast on a roll. The region today is no longer a land of lahe lahe (slow moving).
With peace reigning supreme and development going hand-in-hand, celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day reached the crescendo with the national tricolour fluttering atop houses. People turned up in large numbers at the parade grounds across the region with children in tow.
With the country commemorating 75 years of independence, the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav calls for celebration in a grandiloquent manner befitting the occasion. And what a way to celebrate it! Not only on the 15th of August when the country attained freedom, as we have been doing all along these years but two days ahead of the event i.e., on the 13th and 14th of August. Fortunately, the flag code was amended first in 2002, and then again it was tweaked last year by the Modi Government to make it much more accessible to aam aadmi.
In his latest "Mann ki Baat" address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an impassioned plea to all of us not only to hoist the flag in our homes during the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign — the tricolour in every home — but also post it on our social media handles and pin it virtually, thereby giving us a certificate of commendation. This process in a way heralds the true democratization of the flag signalling the smooth transition of its own from the state to the people.
The national tricolour is our symbol of pride, soul and identity, giving us a sense of belongingness vis-a-vis to who we are - citizens of a free nation. Being free means much when it is seen against the backdrop of all the trials and tribulations, struggles and sacrifices that went into freeing the country from the yoke of British imperialism and breathing the air of freedom. More than ever, as we embark on the celebration of India@75, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the occasion bears more importance and significance.
This epoch-making day is a day when we must all come together under the flag and rise in unison transcending the barriers of caste, creed or religion. Under this flag, all are equal, as aptly said by noted freedom fighter and poet Sarojini Naidu when she addressed the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, the day the National Flag was dedicated to the people, "Remember under this Flag there is no prince and there is no peasant, there is no rich and there is no poor. There is no privilege there is only duty and responsibility and sacrifice. Whether we be Hindus or Muslims, Christians, Jains, Sikhs or Zoroastrians and others, our Mother India has one undivided heart and one indivisible spirit. Men and women of reborn India rise and salute this Flag! I bid you, rise and salute the Flag."
Coinciding with the campaign, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' anthem on 2 August, the birthday of Pingali Venkayya, the freedom fighter who designed the flag. The anthem produced by the Ministry of Culture features many celebrities. The song has been beautifully rendered by Asha Bhosle and Sonu Nigam with Amitabh Bachchan's rich baritone adding charm to it. The soulful tune has been composed by Devi Sri Prasad, popularly known as Rockstar DSP. The video celebrates the strengths and diversity of India, our achievements in various fields, as well as the pristine beauty of our country. It captures the marginalized tribal, ethnic communities and the far-flung and remote places at their very best. The video in essence showcases these diverse regions and people becoming one nation under the Tiranga.
The video features Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the form of the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity with Prime Minister Modi paying tribute to the 'Iron Man of India'. Radiant personalities like Swami Vivekananda and Subhas Chandra Bose also appear for a while. And finally, Prime Minister Modi appears at the end and also in the photo of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav poster.
The "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign spearheaded by the Modi Government rekindles the patriotic fervour witnessed during India's long struggle for freedom. How much the Opposition tries to drive home the point that the campaign is nothing but a manifestation of the BJP's business gameplan, it has found no takers. Is there anyone who can dare to go against the flag of a nation? After all, the flag represents our ethos and our very identity as a free nation under which all of us must come together irrespective of our differences. The Opposition by making an issue out of it...by trying to downplay the campaign will find itself nowhere!
It's good to see that a slew of steps are being taken by the Modi Government for free distribution of the national flag and also making it within the reach of the common man, while in Assam the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP Government has set a target to hoist the national tricolour atop 80 lakh rural and urban households, state-run institutes, private entities, schools and commercial establishments.
So far, so good. My only appeal is that no one should be forced to fly or display the flag. Even those who are unable to do so, should not be branded unpatriotic or anti-national. The unfurling or display of the flag must be a spontaneous act and not one to be imposed upon in any manner whatsoever.