I stood with the rest of the gathering, at attention as the strains of Jana Gana Mana ended, and the National Flag was unfurled. I watched as those around me walked away for their light refreshments, , and then heard voices around me, “It’s not balanced!”
“Yes sadly it isn’t!” said another familiar voice. “Of course it is!” I snarled without turning around, “The pole is balanced. The flag is also balanced. See how it waves in the wind!” “It’s not the pole or the flag in the wind, we are talking about!” said the first voice, “It’s the colours! They are not balanced anymore!”
I turned around slowly and realised I stood alone, next to the just unfurled flag. “I hear your voices!” I whispered, “But can see no one!” “We are here for your flag unfurling!” said the first voice. “And you said there was no balance, and I said there is!” I replied. “But there isn’t anymore!” said the second voice, sounding even more sadder, “Just look at your flag!”
I looked and could see nothing wrong, “When we got it made!” said the first voice which I now recognised was that of the late Jawaharlal Nehru, “The saffron, white and green were equally balanced!” “It is!” I said. “What we can see, you can’t!” said the second voice, that of the Mahatma, “And the imbalance which may sound good to some, may also have brought politicians to power, will soon create huge problems!”
“Only an equal balance of orange, white and green will keep the country stable!” the two voices said together. I looked hard at the flag and saw how right they were. The colour on the top was slowly spreading, but as it spread down, it was turning from it’s original colour to colours which expressed anger and hate, and unrest!”
“Can you see what is happening when one colour tries to grab the whole flag?” asked the first voice. “Yes!” I said, “it’s a different flag I see!” “It’s only in balance and proportion that the country can stand proud and alone..” “..and strong and independent!” said the second voice. I saw the others coming back to the flag, “Why are you standing and staring at the flag?” they asked.
“It’s not balanced!” I said. “That’s okay!” some said. “No!” I whispered, “It will not work any other way except if the colours are balanced! Look around you, democracy has failed in all the nations where any one colour tries to dominate. Don’t let this happen here!” “Keep telling them!” I heard both the voices of two men who I knew had fought and won our freedom, “Keep telling them, that only through balance in those three colours of saffron, white and green can we remain a great country and an Independent India. Jai Hind..!”
—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com
