On the eve of Republic Day, Hans Raj College under University of Delhi hoisted a monumental flag on its campus, almost a year after Central University Vice-Chancellor decided to fly the Tricolour atop a 207-feet mast in all their premises to evoke nationalistic sentiments on campuses.

According to the CEO of The Flag Foundation of India, Shahnawaz Khan, Delhi University is the first public university to have a monumental flagpole. The flag pole on the premises of Hans Raj College is similar to the one installed in Connaught Place’s Central Park, according to Khan.

On February 18th 2016, former HRD Minister, Smriti Irani chaired a meeting of around 39 vice-chancellors of central universities and decided that all universities will hoist national flag atop a 207-feet mast. The aim behind this move was to instil a sense of ‘nationalism and pride’ amongst the student community of Delhi University. This meeting was called by Smriti Irani in the wake of Rohith Vemula’s suicide in Hyderabad, which triggered a national outcry over social discrimination amongst students in educational campuses. The decision was reached in the backdrop of the controversy created around Jawaharlal Nehru University where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

The 100-ft high flag was hoisted at Hans Raj College by Naveen Jindal, who is a Member of Parliament and the President of the Flag Foundation of India. Accompanying him was his batch-mate, actor Parveen Dabas.

Last year, in August itself, Naveen Jindal, had announced on the college’s Foundation Day that he would hoist the national flag in the college campus. On this event, Naveen Jindal said, “Being an alumnus of Hans Raj College, I am extremely elated that it is the first college in Delhi University to have installed a monumental Flag. Tiranga belongs to all of us equally. When a person displays his national flag, he rises above political, social or religious affiliations.”

Joyee Bhattacharya
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Image credits: The Times of India