Red Cross: Insignia of peace and aid in times of distress of humanity

The Red Cross insignia evokes an image of hospital, ambulance, medical and healthcare staff. But beyond these services, it stands for neutrality in times of extreme hostilities and assurance of dignified treatment every human being deserves.

Since the adoption of a red cross on a white flag as the emblem of Red Cross movement in 1864, the organisation has spread across the globe where every country has an individual unit of the Red Cross Society. The ‘red cross on a white flag’ was a tribute to Switzerland whose flag has a white cross on a red flag. This was so because peace apostle Jean Henri Dunant was a Swiss national, born in Geneva on May 8. Dunant was the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1901). That is why May 8 is celebrated as the World Red Cross Day.

However, the Muslim world initially found the emblem objectionable as the cross is also associated with the crucixion of Jesus Christ.

Muslims found an answer to the sign of Red Cross in Red Crescent though crescent has nothing to do with Islam. Crescent became a Muslim sign when the Ottoman rulers adopted it from the Byzantine empire which had the ‘crescent’ on their honour medals. Muslim relation with Crescent, at best, be claimed for them following the lunar calender which begins with a Crescent. Many Islamic countries have crescent insignia on their flags.

Red Cross and Red Crescent both are displayed on white flag and their internal federation is called the International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Both share the same motto: neutrality and selfless service.

Red Cross became so popular that even Mahatma Gandhi served as a volunteer during the Boer War (1889-1903). A pencil drawing shows him wearing stricter bearer’s uniform, red cross band and an army hat.

In 1884, disaster relief was added to the Red Cross agenda.

UP CONNECTION: Uttar Pradesh Red Cross Society, too, has a contribution to the Red Cross, both in terms of membership drive and for pressing against the unauthorized use of the Red Cross emblem. Late MN Abdi of Lucknow Red Cross, who served as the vice-chairman of Indian Red Cross, tirelessly fought for ban on use of ‘red cross’ sign by chemists, doctors, and other medical services without becoming a member of the society. He also urged for legislative intervention for securing the sanctity of the mark in line with the Chinese Red Cross which had banned the use of Red Cross by non-Members and bodies. Finally, under the amended Red Cross Act, the ‘Red Cross’ was barred from use by any other organisation or service and a new sign was adopted by medical services. In 1985, MN Abdi was awarded presidents gold medal which was the first and the only honour UP Red Cross received so far at the national level.

Red Cross has its junior unit which enrolls young men and women as volunteers. Additionally, The St John Ambulance Brigade is its arms for training of First Aid and auxiliary services.

With noble objects of selfless service Indian Red Cross should expand its working to include changing social needs in its agenda. Chaotic urban traffic, falling environmental standards, ecological imbalance and civic awareness for healthy life can be the new task for red cross society to adopt. Junior red cross volunteers can imbibe the required sagacity in the impressionable minds.

(The writer is oral history and culture exponent)
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