In colleges, flags don’t fly too high

Even as the country celebrates the 66th year of its independence, the reality remains unchanged. Flag-hoisting, an act aimed at preaching oneness and love for the nation, is seen by students as just a chore. The city’s youth admit that given a choice, they would give flag-hoisting ceremonies a miss. While it was mandatory for kids in schools to attend the ceremony, city colleges barely saw 30% attendance on Independence Day.

Sixteen-year-old Parag Chavan, an FYJC commerce student, says, “I used to attend the flag-hoisting ceremony willingly till Class 7, but later on I did it only for attendance. Now, since it’s not compulsory, I stay home or go out with friends.”

Educationists feel that making attendance compulsory is not an option.  Suhas Pednekar, principal of Ramnarian Ruia College says, “While in college, students should have a commitment towards the nation. This feeling cannot be simply generated by making attendance compulsory.”

Echoing his views, Dinesh Panjawani, principal of RD National College, Bandra, says, “August 15 should be declared a non-instructional day so that students will come to college.”

Also, for most colleges, space is a major issue. Shobhana Vasudevan, principal of RA Podar College, Matunga, says, “We do not call all the students as the playground where the hoisting takes place is not big enough to accommodate so many students.”