The Flag Hoisting in Four Feet Deep Water

In a non-descriptive village somewhere in Central India the Monsoons have been more than active during this year and as our Independence Day falls during the peak of the rainy season and it was to be celebrated after two days. The village had to face the problem of waterlogging during this season and this year as well the scenario hadn't changed a bit. As the nation geared up to celebrate its Independence Day the situation in the village was worsening with each passing day. The Middle School of the village had the only open space available for the flag hoisting ceremony along with the flagpole, but like every year this small ground having the flagpole was under four feet of water.

As far as the condition of this village goes it's been the same since 1947, most of the populace being peasants, the fields were small and the homes were even smaller. Due to the annual waterlogging the life became difficult, however, the homes were on a little hillock.

Like every time the local leaders had promised to solve the problem faced during the rainy season, which only needed some well planned drains, but after elections they forgot all about it and the rainy season which also lasted for two and a half months got over. This happened along the cycle of every five years, no one complained and everyone was busy with their lives, making both ends meet.

Now the year 2021 Independence Day was about to come and due to the cursed pandemic, Vikas ,the first and only person from the village pursuing Medical Education had also been in the village due to the preponed break between the profs. As was the every year ritual the National flag was to be hoisted in all villages except that of Vikas owing to the annual water logging. No one really cared a bit about these things but Vikas was different as his grandfather was a freedom fighter and had also received a" tamra patra" for the same. Vikas had grown up by listening to the stories of freedom struggle from his grandfather. He had been fascinated by these real life stories since his childhood. 

Vikas was really pained to know that in his village the Independence Day is not even thought of, leave alone any kind of celebration, as he has been brought up in the capital city of the state. It is due to the Pandemic that this year he was at his native place. He could not tolerate such situation as one of the villager was suggesting to observe the Independence Day as black day in view of the annual water logging of all the fields and the middle school. Vikas got a brilliant idea and he along with five like minded people including his father decided to hoist the flag at the middle school compound, which was four feet under water. They prepared the flag and Vikas got up on the wall. He came down and wore the cap, his father pulled the cord. Five of them stood in attention waist deep in water and sang the National Anthem. They then raised the slogans " Bharat Mata Ki Jai", "Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai" and "Vande Matram".

Incidentally, this small but emotionally charged incident was recorded on a mobile camera by a child and it became viral over social media and soon it found itself on national TV. This small ceremony became a national rage and on the same tab came the statement of the state CM giving ultimatum to the concerned department to complete the flood protection and channelisation of the mighty river. The person proposing to celebrate the black day came to the home of Vikas leading all the villagers with garlands in hands, as Vikas had shown them the right and patriotic way to highlight the grievances and demands , instead of blocking roads, stone pelting or burning buses.