Proud to dispose of tattered flags

For millions of Indians, the hoisting of national flag on Independence and Republic days is a proud moment. Forty-three-year-old Shivakumar Hosamani takes pride in another act, the proper and honourable disposal of worn, soiled, or tattered flags.

So far this social activist has disposed of more than 15,000 flags by going through elaborate procedures following proper rules. What made him launch this mission 10 years ago was a shameless act by an autorickshaw driver from his locality.

“One morning, as I was walking near my house in Rajajinagar, I saw an auto driver cleaning up his vehicle using the national flag. I was shocked and horrified. Then I went told him that we should respect the national flag and should not use it as a waste cloth for cleaning. I explained to him the importance of the national flag. The driver realised the mistake and told me that he will never commit this mistake again,” Hosamani said.

The incident disturbed him and he began to learn more about the national flag and how every citizen should learn to respect it.
“To learn more, I visited the Seva Dala, an organisation near by my house and many public libraries. I wanted information on how the national flag should be disposed of,” he said.

In 2003, he started the Rashtra Dhwaja Gourava Samrakshana Abhiyana. He visited various schools, colleges and private organisations in the city and invited volunteers for his campaign. The volunteers were mostly NSS students from schools and colleges.

“The volunteers visited various places and whenever they see a torn or soiled flag, they used to inform me. Along with senior members, I visited such places and after talks with the authorities, used to remove the flag. If volunteers came across any flag dumped on the ground, they used to collect and store them in the office,” Hosamani said, adding that he had about 60 volunteers working for the mission.

Three years ago, one of the volunteers found a tattered flag hoisted at Metro Cash and Carry. “We went to the place and protested in front of the Metro and registered a complaint with the Subramanyapura police station. Later, when the Metro authorities said their act was not intentional, we withdrew the complaint and protest,” he said.

His team had removed worn flags from Canara Bank and SBM Bank on KG Road a few years ago. Today, these volunteers, apart from collecting torn flags, also distribute handouts to people and visit schools to give children lessons on the significance of national flag.
“In 2001, we had collected about 2,500 flags. But after our constant awareness campaign in 2010, we collected just 600 flags which shows people became aware of the importance of the flag. We also conduct massive campaigns during Independence and Republic days. One week after the celebration, we will conduct a massive campaign to collect flags which are thrown on the ground,” he said.

Every year, they dispose more than 1,000 flags. “We have to dispose the flag by either burning it or by burying. If we want to bury, then we should make sure that no person walks on the place. So we thought that we will burn them. I brought a huge iron drum where the flags are burned in an honourable way. Initially, we used to leave the ash in Sangama where River Lokapavani joins River Cauvery near Srirangapatna. Later, we decided to pour ash water on trees. This practice is still continuing,” he said.
Avinash, a qualified umpire with Karnataka State Cricket Association for a decade, is among Hosamani’s assistants.

“As citizens of this country, we have to respect the national flag. The people should restrain from using synthetic or plastic flag.
Instead, we should use cotton flag. Every year, we celebrate Independence and Republic days at Jawahar Sports Club,” Avinash said.