Pomburpa: A recent Pomburpa flag hoisting at the Olaulim Village Panchayat has raised serious questions from local resident and teacher Meena Gaykar. She noticed the National Flag being hoisted at the panchayat premises without any government officials present.
Consequently, the concerned citizen took her grievance directly to the institution involved. Gaykar contacted the panchayat head and sought an immediate explanation for the manner in which the flag had been hoisted. According to Gaykar, she was told that the activity was directly connected to the Congress’ Goy Rakhonn Yatra. However, this explanation did not settle her concern. Instead, it left her asking a much larger question: “Does their yatra come before the nation?”
Political Programme vs. National Symbol
For Gaykar, the issue is not about opposing a political party or taking sides in a political dispute. Rather, it is entirely about the distinction between a political programme and a national symbol. In her view, the Tricolour represents every Indian. Therefore, it deserves a level of respect that cannot be determined by the presence or purpose of any political event.
Furthermore, the Flag Code of India, 2002, lays down strict provisions governing the display of the National Flag by government organisations. It requires the flag to occupy a position of honour and to be treated with dignity at all times. Because of this, the circumstances surrounding the Pomburpa flag hoisting have raised questions for Gaykar about whether the occasion was handled with the seriousness expected at a public institution.
A Teacher’s Call for Civic Accountability
What makes Gaykar’s intervention notable is that she did not stop at simply expressing her displeasure. Instead, she approached the panchayat directly to raise what she believed was a legitimate civic concern. As a teacher, she said her reaction came from a deep sense of responsibility towards the national symbol. She firmly believes that citizens should not remain silent when they notice something that deserves scrutiny.
Following the incident, the Goa Speaks team visited the Pomburpa-Olaulim panchayat premises after the issue was brought to light. During the visit, no government officials were present at the location, and residents expressed their dissatisfaction over the episode. As a result, the concerns raised by Gaykar continue to resonate locally, particularly over the manner in which the matter was handled.
Building a Culture of Responsible Citizenship
For Gaykar, however, this is not simply about one isolated Pomburpa flag hoisting ceremony. Instead, it is about the kind of civic culture people want to build around their public institutions. She believes citizens must be willing to ask tough questions when something appears questionable, rather than assuming that accountability rests only with elected representatives.
Therefore, her appeal is for people to be more aware of what happens in the public spaces around them. Speaking up does not have to be partisan or confrontational; it can simply be an expression of responsible citizenship.
At the heart of the matter is a distinction Gaykar believes should never be blurred. A political yatra represents a political organisation, while the Tricolour represents the nation. Political programmes may come and go, but the flag remains a symbol shared by citizens across all ideological lines.
Ultimately, that is why this routine Pomburpa flag hoisting has prompted a much bigger conversation about citizenship, accountability, and the respect owed to a symbol that belongs to the country itself.
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