‘Bengal’s Flag Man ’ Sarkar Urges Hyderabad Students to Respect Tiranga
Hyderabad, Aug 14 (TNT): ‘Flag Man of Bengal’ Priya Ranjan Sarkar interacted with nearly 250 students at ZPHS Boduppal near here on Friday as part of an awareness initiative by PR CommUNITY on the respectful handling and disposal of the National Flag.
Sarkar, who has been collecting discarded National Flags and ensuring their dignified disposal for more than 15 years, shared his experiences with the students and stressed that respect for the Tiranga should continue beyond Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.
Accompanied by his interpreter Saikat Banerjee, Sarkar explained the importance of proper handling of the National Flag.
The interaction turned into a question-and-answer session, with students seeking clarity on hoisting and unfurling the flag, flying it at night, handling flags during rain and the appropriate procedure for damaged or discarded flags.
Students also asked whether the National Flag could be used for decoration and how they could contribute to the campaign. Some expressed interest in becoming ‘Flag Ambassadors’ in their schools.
Sarkar said he had collected more than one lakh discarded National Flags over the years from roads, gutters, dustbins and other inappropriate places.
He said every flag collected was either preserved, where possible, or given a dignified and respectful disposal if damaged or unfit for display.
“A National Flag should never end up in a gutter, on a road or in a dustbin,” Sarkar said, emphasising that patriotism should not be limited to ceremonial occasions.
As part of the programme, Sarkar administered a pledge to the students to respect the Tiranga, never discard it carelessly and ensure that any National Flag found lying on the ground was handled with dignity.
PR CommUNITY representatives, including D. Ramachandram, encouraged students to spread awareness among their families, friends and communities about the responsible handling of the National Flag.
The programme was attended by G. Ashok Kumar, Headmaster of ZPHS Boduppal, along with teachers and other school staff.
PR CommUNITY said the initiative aimed to move beyond symbolic celebration of the Tiranga and promote a deeper sense of responsibility towards the National Flag.
TNT TS
