Reoccurring mutilation of the national flag installed at Pahari Mandir seems to have gone out of hand for the Pahari Mandir Vikas Samiti, the entity responsible to maintain the country’s tallest Tricolour.
The flag got damaged once again a few days ago was somehow brought down on Sunday. However, the management invited a different kind of trouble, when the flag got stuck midway leaving it half-mast after it tried to replace the torn flag with a new one.
It was flying half mast till writing of the report. Notably, the national flag is half-masted if the government declares to observe state mourning on the death of a dignitary.
Ironically, the office-bearers of the Samiti, who had got Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Raghubar Das to hoist the tallest Tricolour with much fanfare, are either looking the other way or shooting the messenger for the mess.
When asked why any solution to the problem could not be found out since the installation of the 493 meter high national flag unfurled on January 23 last, Sub-Divisional Office Aditya Kumar Anand, who happens to be the ex-officio secretary of the Samiti, retorted, “We are looking at the perfect material for the flag. Can you (the media) help us in finding thatIJ”
Anand snubbed the general perception that the Samiti has been continuously showing disrespect to the national flag and the episode has caused embarrassment for the residents. “There is no controversy whatsoever. This is a technical issue. Earlier, the flag was getting torn due to high wind speed and this time the gear of the motor taking it up has stuck in the middle. These things are not in our hands and we cannot guarantee that these issues would not happen in future,” explained the SDO.
He also discarded the view blaming the management for being wrong side of the Flag Code of India that prohibits anyone from displaying the tricolor in mutilated state. The flag was ripped at least four times in the past, replaced after days of fluttering in the same condition and now trapped half-mast after the gear trouble.
“Flag code says against intentional disrespect to the tricolor which has not been done here. It is getting torn due to wind. We wait for the right time as it may get damaged further if brought down in a hurry. Moreover, fixing the gear problem tops our priority and we are in touch with the Pune-based company that had installed motor as well as of some local mechanics. The problem would be rectified by Tuesday,” said the SDO.
The Samiti was also of the view that there is no fault in design of the pole for the flag getting ripped apart again and again.
“Till now, trial and error method was being applied to maintain the flag. But we have decided that this time we would focus on the flag material. Textile experts are being involved. It may take time but we would go fully prepared this time around,” assured the SDO.
Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar, who happens to be the Chairperson of the committee, hit the nail where the head is. “We took up the matter with the Flag Foundation recently. Their reaction was that we have taken up a big headache! High mast flags hoisted all over are facing similar problem,” said he.
On the way ahead, the DC pointed out that the management is making ready two locally made flags with synthetic nylon materials.
“It weighs half of the previously used flag and costs between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 only. There are two flags of older material in store and with this we have four flags in spare with us. We expect that changes in textile and correction done in stitching pattern should do the things,” said Kumar.
Interestingly, Samiti officials blamed the media and general people for keep ranting over the issue without tendering any solution.
“We are putting in hard labour to maintain the pride of the State. But it is unfortunate that people are just criticising us from a distance and not coming up to help us. These forces are just interested in spreading negativity. The flag is not a property of ours but of the entire country. There is noting personal about it,” said Samiti spokesperson Mukesh Aggarwal.
Meanwhile, the matter may also reach the doors of the High Court. Advocate Vikas Pandey is mulling to file a PIl citing violation of the Flag Code. “In my view, the national flag is undergoing disrespect which is not a good thing. I am examining the facts and may file a case. My intention is not to frame anyone but the purpose is to keep the respect to the tricolor intact,” said Pandey.
The flag weighing around 60 kg and made of parachute material costs anything between Rs 80,000 to Rs one lakh. Since the inauguration in January this year, it is estimated that around Rs six lakh has been spent on just hoisting and re-hoisting the tricolor atop Pahari temple. The cost is being born by the Samiti which is the custodian of the public money contributed by the devotees.
Flag-3 : Country’s tallest tricolour flies at half mast atop Pahari hills in Ranchi on Monday. Pix by Ratan lal