Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Aug 16: We have seen grand Independence Day celebrations with flags everywhere but a dalit leader in Bantwal has celebrated Independence Day in the compound of his house and showed his love for his motherland.

His name is Rajapallamajalu.  He is the founder president of Navachetana Seva Trust on B C Road and has been celebrating the day for the last eighteen years in the compound of his house situated at Pallamajalu in B Mooda gram by hoisting the flag and distributing sweets, giving rise to the love of the country among the people and inspiring them to be an example to others.

He says that "our celebrations should not be confined to religious feasts and August 15 should be a day of feast for every house in the country."

He invites neighbors on the August 15 every year, and the flag is hoisted by children at 8 am.   

He began the practice in 1995 when he had invited local leaders for the programme and has continued the practice all these years.  He attends to flag hoisting programmes in other places only after finishing at his house saying that the lessons of love towards the country should be taught to children at a young age.

He adds that the flag recieves its honor when it is hoisted between 8 am and 6 pm, stressing that the programme should not be restricted to government offices alone.