Dharwad (Karnataka): The national flag represents the strength, pride and courage of the nation. A family from Dharwad has been hoisting the same Tricolour for the past 74 years The flag, which was first hoisted in 1947, has been kept safe by the family.
Gangadhar Kulkarni, a retired veterinary officer and resident of Gandhinagar in Dharwad district, used to keep the flag in his home safely. After the family shifted to Dharwad in 2011, they started to keep the flag in a bank locker. Every year during independence day, Gangadhar opens the locker and brings the flag home. After hoisting it in front of their home, the next day they again keep it back in the locker safely.
All members of his family, locals as well as people from abroad participate in the flag hoisting ceremony at Kulkarni's house. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, outsiders did not attend the ceremony last year.
Story behind the flag
Gangadhara's teacher gave him the flag when he was studying in 4th standard in 1947. His mother paid just 25 paise for it at that time. Before shifting to Dharwad, Ganghadhar's family hoisted the flag in front of their home in their native place Nalatwad village. On some occasions, this flag was hoisted in the village school too.
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The flag was with his mother until 2010. Gangadhar and his family have continued this tradition as their mother's wish after coming to Dharwad from Vijayapura, keeping this flag in the bank locker as the country’s most important asset.
"I was studying in 4th standard in 1947. There was a huge celebration everywhere. I am happy and lucky to witness the Platinum Jubilee of Indian Independence in my lifetime. We have not completed 75 years but we are going to hoist the flag on the 75th year of independence. This is the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee," Gangadhar said.
