By: Vijay Kumar Verma, Group Editor-ICN World
SHIMLA: On the first Independence Day of India the National Flag was hoisted for the first time,by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the presence of about 4 lac people at Red Fort,Delhi. Due to heavy crowd of people on the roads, the first Governor General of India, Lord Mount Betton could not reach the venue and had hailed Prime Minister from a distance to continue with the ceremony.
On the first Independence Day, since there was no flag on the pole, it was hoisted by the Prime Minister. That is why it is a practice that the National Flag is first hoisted atop the pole and then unfurled. On this first Independence Day the National Anthem had not been adopted and hence Vande Matram was sung. The National Anthem, composed by Rabindra Nath Tagore, was adopted on 24th January 1950.
On the other hand since the National Flag is already hoisted, it is unfurled on the Republic Day. Some people are not aware of the difference of flag hoisting and UNFURLING, they undertake similar practice of UNFURLING the National Flag on both the days.
In the news too it is therefore referred as Flag hoisting on Independence Day and UNFURLING of National Flag on Republic day.
