Har Ghar Tiranga: Angry Garag residents in Dharwad boycott campaign, protest change in flag code

Garag village, synonymous with the khadi tricolur, has stopped production now owing to lack of material. The villagers and unit workers are angry with the change in flag code

When the tricolour flutters atop households on August 15, marking the 75 th year of India’s independence, the residents of Garag village in Dharwad taluk will not join the celebrations. They are upset with the decision to allow flags of polyester and mill cloth, which has consequently forced the Garag khadi unit, synonymous with the tricolour, to suspend production.

Every year when the khadi tricolour fluttered atop high masts on independence day, the residents of Garag village felt proud as it was the cloth manufactured in their village that had gone into the making of the national flag. This year, however, even the ready flag cloth in the Khadi unit has not been procured by the KVIC for flag production.

Also read: Khadi units in doldrums as costs shoot up, raw material grows scarce

The village residents have already submitted in writing their decision to not hoist flag of any cloth to express their displeasure over amendment to the flag code.

 “This decision was taken in consultation with the elders of the village and it has already been communicated to authorities. We consider allowing any material other than Khadi a disgrace to the national flag itself,” said Kiran Bulbule, clarifying that they were not against Har Ghar Tiranga campaign but against using non-khadi flags.

“When the campaign was announced, we felt very happy as earlier we never had the opportunity to hoist tricolour atop our homes. But it was short-lived when we learnt that our Khadi unit has no role in it since flags of other materials had been allowed,” Laxman Yaligar, a young lecturer, told The Hindu.

Social workers Viresh Jogi and Manjunath Dodmani said, “When one thinks of national flag, one automatically remembers Garag. But when the very existence of the khadi unit which weaves the cloth for the flag is being wiped out, how can we celebrate?”