The Armed Forces Flag Day has been observed annually in India on December 7 since 1949. Over the years, it has become a tradition to commemorate this day as an honor to the soldiers, sailors and airmen of India.
After freedom from the Britons, a need arose for the government to manage the welfare of its defense personnel. On August 28, 1949, a committee set up under the defense minister decided to observe a Flag Day annually on December 7. The idea behind observing a Flag Day was to distribute small flags to the general population and in return collect donations. Flag Day gains more significance as it considers that it is the responsibility of the civilian population of India to take care of the families and dependents of the armed forces personnel who fight for the country.
It is a time for Indians to express their gratitude and appreciation to the current and veteran military personnel of India and to acknowledge those who died in service to the country.
On Flag Day all three branches of the Indian armed forces, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, arrange a variety of shows, carnivals, dramas and other entertainment programmes to showcase to the general public the efforts of their personnel to ensure national security. Throughout the country small flags and car flags in red, deep blue and light blue colors representing the three Services are distributed in return for donations.
The collection is organized both by official and non-official means through voluntary organizations. Though welfare of the ex-servicemen and their dependents is the joint responsibility of the union government, and the governments of States and Union Territories (UTs), the majority of the problems have to be resolved only by the States and UTs. Like the Kendriya Sainik Board at the center, the Rajya / Zila Sainik Boards are responsible for policy formulation and implementation of resettlement and welfare schemes for ex-servicemen, widows and their dependents residing in their respective States / UTs / Districts. To assist the Central Government in this regard, there are 32 Rajya Sainik Boards and 392 Zila Sainik Boards in the country.
The Fund is operated by a Managing Committee presided over by the Defence Minister at the center and by the executive heads of the governments in the States and Union Territories. When the Armed Forces Flag Day programme was introduced, the fund allocation was managed in such a way that the Central KSB headquarters was given only a very small share of the Flag Day Fund collections made by each state.
However, a strong opinion is emerging within the soldiers – active and retired that the outstanding feats of bravery, achievements and sacrifices made by India's armed forces during wars with the enemies of this country should be remembered forever with pride and gratitude.
Let us also never forget our 54 officers and men taken prisoners of war, who are dead or dying in Pakistani prisons. How unfortunate and tragic that we as victors, allowed 93,000 Pakistani prisoners to return home to their families but could not bring back our own soldiers, while also returning 13,000 square km of captured territory won with the blood, toil and sweat of our men.
Thus it is now the time to declare and celebrate a special historical day from our war history as the Soldier Day or Armed Forces Day and do away with the irrelevant and antiquated Armed Forces Flag Day on December 7.
Let a chapter be added to our history books so that future generations read about this momentous victory and continue to remember and honor the sacrifices made by the gallant soldiers of India.
