The market trend of wristbands being sold on Friendship Day and Raksha Bandhan has now invaded the celebration of Independence Day too. The tricolour wristbands with cloth cum Velcro binding and flexible silicone bands are latest style fiesta of this year’s Independence Day.
Market forces are urging the Indian youths to exhibit patriotism and passion for the country by wearing ‘Tricolour Wristbands’ on the national festival of Independence Day. Costly tricolour wristbands with stretchable fabric are being sold as a dressing accessory to display patriotism this year.
However, there is a need to understand the basic values for which our flag stands for as a symbol of national pride. India’s national flag, popularly known as Tiranga, consists of horizontal stripes of saffron, white and green colours.
In the center, the white stripe has a navy blue wheel with 24 spokes called the Ashoka Chakra. Our national flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya with a significance attached to the colours and the wheel, which seems to be forgotten in the wrist bands and badges.
Our national flag is made of khadi or silk that passes through the manufacturing process and specifications laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The Indian flag has a ratio of two by three and all three stripes of the flag should be equal in width and length.
The significance of the colours of our national flag is described in terms of the values and qualities they stand for. The saffron colour denotes sacrifice, dedication to assigned duty and renunciation. The white colour in the center denotes the values of peace and purity to guide our conduct. The green stands for prosperity through respect for plant life and mother earth on which all other life depends.
The “Ashoka Chakra” in the center of the white stripe is the wheel denotes motion, dynamism and transformation through peaceful means. There is need to emphasize the values the colours of our national flag stands for rather than the style statement for patriotism through tricolour wristbands.
The writer is a Jaipur based freelance educator consultant.
Dr. Lalit Kishore
