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    The Indian Eye
             EYE ON INDIA                                                              AUGUST 21, 2026                                       6

                    Patriotism Takes Centre

              Stage as Indians Celebrate

                              the Spirit of Tiranga

             From Tiranga rallies and boat yatras to flags on homes and patriotic songs, the country

                  witnesses a nationwide expression of pride, remembrance and collective resolve

            OUR BUREAU
            New Delhi
                  s India celebrates its 80th In-
                  dependence Day, the national
            Aflag  is  increasingly  becoming
            the most visible symbol of a country
            preparing not merely to remember its
            freedom struggle but to connect that
            history with its ambitions for the future.
                Across cities, universities, gov-
            ernment institutions and neighbour-
            hoods, the Tricolour is appearing
            in rallies, processions, cultural pro-
            grammes and public spaces. The
            mood is unmistakably patriot-
            ic, but the messaging around this
            year’s celebrations is also changing.
            Alongside memories of the freedom
            movement and sacrifices of the past,
            there is a growing emphasis on In-
            dia’s development, self-reliance and               People take part in a Tiranga Boat Rally in the upper lake ahead in Bhopal on Thursday  (ANI Photo)
            the ambition of becoming a devel-
            oped nation by 2047.              bicycle rallies, tricolour illumination   theme “Tiranga Salute to the Spirit of   digital space.
                At the centre of this nationwide   of important locations, decorations   Vande Mataram”, while the popular   The political leadership has been
            mobilisation is the ‘Har Ghar Tiran-  and Rangoli programmes. Special ac-  ‘Selfie with Tiranga’ initiative is once   prominent in setting the tone. Ex-
            ga’ campaign, which encourages cit-  tivities are being organised under the   again bringing the campaign into the   ternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
            izens  to  bring  the  national  flag  into                                                           shared a photograph with the nation-
            their homes and establish a more per-                                                                 al flag, with External Affairs Ministry
            sonal relationship with the Tricolour.                                                                spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal am-
            The campaign began under the Azadi                                                                    plifying the message with the phrase,
            Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative with the                                                                 “Tiranga in every heart, every home.”
            objective  of  making  the  flag  part  of                                                                Prime Minister Narendra Modi
            everyday public participation rather                                                                  has also urged citizens to participate
            than limiting it to official ceremonies.                                                              in the campaign, linking the symbol-
                This year, the campaign carries                                                                   ism of the national flag with the larg-
            an additional historical resonance.                                                                   er goal of building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
            India is marking the 150th anniversa-                                                                 He has described the Tricolour as a
            ry of ‘Vande Mataram’, the national                                                                   source of inspiration for citizens to
            song that became deeply associated                                                                    contribute to the nation and under-
            with the freedom movement. The                                                                        lined  the  special  significance  of  this
            combination  of  the  Tricolour and                                                                   year’s celebrations because of the
            Vande Mataram has given the cele-                                                                     150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.
            brations a strong historical and cul-                                                                     The message is clear: patriotism
            tural dimension.                                                                                      is being presented not only as an emo-
                The government has planned                                                                        tion but also as a responsibility.
            Tiranga rallies and processions, ex-  National Cadet Corps (NCC) Cadets, Maharashtra Directorate, participate in the ‘Har Ghar   That idea is visible in the lan-
            hibitions, concerts, motorcycle and     Tiranga rally’ campaign at Azad Maidan, in Mumbai on Thursday (ANI Photo)  Continued on next page... >>

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