Bilaspur. The entire country is immersed in the celebrations of the Republic. Patriotic tunes and songs are echoing everywhere. Amidst all this, there is a family in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in whose courtyard the tricolor flutters proudly every day. In the morning, not the Aarti and the echo of bells, but the sounds of the national anthem Jana Gana Mana resonate. Every member of the family salutes the tricolor before entering the temple.
The tradition of hoisting the tricolor was started in the year 2002 in the house of retired ITI officer KK Srivastava of Nehru Nagar, Bilaspur, which continues till date. For the last 23 years, whenever any guest comes to his house, the tradition of saluting him in front of the national flag has also been followed. Srivastava told that in his childhood, on August 15, a school teacher had forbidden him to stand under the shade of the flag. When he did not agree, he was even pushed and removed. This thing stuck in his mind. He was young then, but since then he had decided that one day he would hoist the tricolor flag on the roof of his house and inspire his family to do the same.
Government has given permission to Srivastava family
Retired officer KK Srivastava told that after marriage he shared this thing with his wife and her wife also supported him in doing this work. The result of this is that every member of the family has adopted the ideals of the father. Family members hoist the tricolor at home every day. Srivastava said that the government has given permission to hoist the tricolor regularly at home or office since 2002, since then he started doing so. The purpose behind this is to make people serious towards their country and the national flag. They want their national flag to keep flying in every house. This will make them happy. Besides, his children also keep motivating him to come forward in this work. Due to this, today he has got a different identity.
Objective of Srivastava family – To awaken patriotism in everyone’s mind
Neerja Srivastava, wife of the retired officer, said that Srivastava, who worked as a training officer in ITI, has two daughters and a son. His elder daughter lives in Bengaluru and younger daughter lives in Delhi. Son Prakhar is studying in Guwahati. The whole family celebrates the festival together at home. First the national anthem is played in the house, then some other noble work is done. Srivastava says that singing the national anthem and hoisting the tricolor at home makes him happy and he will do this work throughout his life. The aim of patriotism of Srivastava family is only one, to awaken patriotism in everyone’s mind. His wish is that the tricolor should keep flying at everyone’s house.