Narain and Sachin's flag fallout

(##include msid=43376741,type=11 ##)With thegovernment targetting sportsmen for their effrontery in wearing the nationalflag as an accessory, marking patriotism in 21st century India just becamehazardous.India''s speed icon, the supremely fit Narain Karthikayanhas been asked to remove the Indian flag from his racing helmet by theGovernment of India.In his effort to bring glory to his land in asport where India is unrepresented, Narain carried his patriotism on his sleeve(head, if you please). In the process he antagonised many.Afterfirst targeting Team India, whose stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar et al are in thehabit of carrying the flag on their helmets and gloves, thebureaucrat-politician brigade lined their sights onKarthikeyan.Citing the fact that the flag was muddied in the heat ofthe battle besides having the blood of countless soldiers martyred on it in theall-out effort at victory. One is left to wonder where these sportsmen wentwrong.Is it unpatriotic to flash your flag on your body?Karthikayan painted the Indian flag on his helmet because it madehim feel good, besides being proud of his country that gave him so much. Hesought to show his allegiance to the world in no circuitousway.Sachin too has been carrying the flag on his head for yearswithout ever scuffing it up or otherwise doing any damage to it, in spite ofcountless efforts of opposition bowlers hurling beamers at thebatsman.What then becomes of the Union Jack bikinis and stars andstripes long johns? Are England and the US any less patriotic than India becausethey have not banned the use of the flag on these objects?Thesportsmen may even feel secure under the soothing presence of a symbol thatrepresents a billion Indian souls. It, in fact, gives the indication that theplayer is proud of his nation, that it means so much to the individual as tomove him enough to flash it as often as possible.In fact, the flagon the helmet indicates one more thing - protection. And, if you go into thevaried meanings of a country then protection is one of the strongest elementsthat forge allegiance of a citizen to the state.What is of essencehere is that Sachin and Narain have put India on every drawing room in the worldthrough their magnificent efforts with the bat and the wheel. Their countrymenare grateful to them for every triumph they achieved.