Western Railway ticket checker to run from Mumbai to Delhi to spread awareness on tricolour

A Western Railways ticket checker has decided to spread awareness among people on the importance of the tricolour by running with the 'Tiranga' held aloft from Mumbai to Delhi (1,900 km).

Khalid Qureshi, the checker, will begin his run from Gateway of India on August 15 and reach India Gate, Delhi on August 24. He will halt at 10 places along the way.

The concept, 'I Love My Tiranga, was conceived two years ago.

Qureshi said he was undertaking this exercise to cheer, motivate and awaken every Indian on the need to love and respect the Tiranga and also convey the message that the flag should flutter atop their houses every day.

Coming from a modest background, Qureshi is pained to see people not respecting the tricolour. He has one question for all Indians: "Why is the national flag displayed only selectively—when India wins cricket match, or on a few national days, or during anti-corruption rallies, etc?"

According to him, one doesn't need a reason to fly the national flag aloft one's house. "Though oodles of money is spent on sprucing up dwelling places, people never care to fly the flag atop their houses," he said.
Reports say in America and many other countries people display their national flags at their homes. However, in India people don't do that, he added.

What is more disappointing is that on national holidays, one can spot Indian flags torn and strewn around on streets.

In New Delhi, he is expects to hand over the Tiranga to some other Indian who has a similar kind of genuine love for the flag, and would take the Tiranga to other cities in India from there.