‘Flag uncle’ in Delhi takes up PM Modi’s call, makes 1.5 lakh tricolours a day

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier called upon the nation to hoist national flags at the residences of 20 crore households to mark India’s 75th Independence Day. A large number of flags are required for this initiative. However, India’s ‘flag uncle’ Abdul Gaffar of Delhi has taken up the task.

Abdul Gaffar runs a flag shop in Sadar Bazar, Delhi. The four narrow rooms of his shop are filled with national flags. He has been running the shop for the past 60 years.

“Usually, when August 15 is around the corner, we make 4,000 to 5,000 flags a day. But this year, we are making over one lakh flags every day. The demand for these flags is so much that the shops and factories are open round the clock and the workers are working in four shifts”, said Gaffar. He receives around 500 calls every day from various places. There are around 600 artisans employed in the shop. Of which, majority are women.

As part of India’s 75th Independence Day, national flags will be hoisted at the residences of 20 crore households during the three-day period between August 13 and August 15. The centre has launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative for the celebrations.