Srinagar, Aug 12: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign has evolved into a festival of people’s consciousness and a tradition of national pride, urging citizens to keep the spirit of the Tricolour high not only on rooftops but also in their thoughts, character and actions.
Addressing the Tiranga Mahotsav at the Botanical Garden in Srinagar after flagging off the Tiranga Yatra from SKICC, Sinha said the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, launched in 2022, was aimed at reviving the respect and emotional bond of every Indian with the national flag.
“When the Tiranga waves across millions of homes, it is not just the flag that waves, but the hearts of 140 crore Indians are united by the same feeling, faith and resolve,” he said.
Sinha said the campaign had become a celebration of national consciousness and love for the motherland, connecting citizens with the nation at a deeper level.
He also highlighted the significance of marking 150 years of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Vande Mataram, describing the song as the “immortal voice” of the nation’s soul.
“If the Tiranga is the soul of our nation, then Vande Mataram is the immortal voice of that soul,” Sinha said, recalling the role the song played in inspiring patriots during the freedom struggle.
He said the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram was not merely an occasion to honour the song but also to pay tribute to the awakening of national consciousness and the spirit of courage, self-confidence and self-respect.
Congratulating the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their participation in the Vande Mataram campaign, the Lieutenant Governor said their efforts had become an inspiration for the entire country.
“You have proved that the love for the nation becomes the consciousness of the people. Only then does history take on a new direction,” he said.
Sinha expressed pride in the participation of youth and citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the Union Territory had emerged as the “best in the country” in the campaign.
He urged the people to sustain the momentum and retain the top position in the next phase.
“This achievement is not merely a number but an expression of the unbreakable national consciousness flowing through Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the participation of people from districts including Bandipora, Baramulla, Pulwama, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Jammu and Srinagar demonstrated the collective spirit of the Union Territory.
He said the Vande Mataram and Har Ghar Tiranga campaigns should encourage citizens to introspect on their contribution towards building the India envisioned by freedom fighters, ancestors and soldiers who made immense sacrifices for the country.
“If our ancestors protected the nation with their blood, sweat and tears, then it is our responsibility to protect it with our character, honesty, dedication, unity and service,” Sinha said.
He described this year’s campaigns as more than two national initiatives, saying they represented the emergence of a new Jammu and Kashmir committed to development, confidence and dedication to the nation.
Calling upon people to take a pledge, Sinha said, “Let us take an oath that the Har Ghar Tiranga will not only be on the rooftops of Jammu and Kashmir, but it will always be high in our thoughts, character and actions.”
He also urged citizens to imbibe the spirit of Vande Mataram in their actions, decisions and responsibilities.
Sinha called upon people to honour the sacrifices made for India’s independence by collectively working towards building a prosperous, secure and just nation that provides equal opportunities to all citizens.
He also stressed the need for collective efforts to build a Jammu and Kashmir that is economically strong and takes pride in Indian cultural and spiritual values.
