Do they really mean it..

By nishant | Published February 20, 2007

The Karnataka flag is seen hoisted at the entrance of one of the popular wholesale malls of Bangalore during the recent protests over the judgement given by the Tribunal for Cauvery river water sharing issue.

This was a common site in front of big commercial complexes, supermarkets, malls,multiplexes IT and BPO company office buildings in Bangalore during the recent days.

I wonder what exactly does it signify.

Does this mean that they love karnataka? If so, why don’t they display the flag through out the year? And why hoist it only at the gates and entrances of the buildings, and not at a dignified flag post set up exclusively for it?
Or does it mean that these big guns care for local issues and are actualy showing their support for the cause?
Or does it mean that this is an act of appeasing the protestors and mobs by the upper middle class( and above) which is least bothered about the issues concerning the localities?
Talking about doing it out of fear: Does it mean we the citizens of a famous cosmopolitan city are nothing but vandals and rioters who love destroying public property in the name of burning issues? And people are forced to act according to our whims and fancies to avoid facing our wrath?

Something is terribly wrong here.

Whatever the industry it maybe, but when it sets up its operations in Bangalore it must invest on two important things for its security apart from hiring security professionals. That is they have to buy the Karnataka flag and Rajkumar posters. Every time a protest breaks out in the city these are the only two things which can save a building from getting ransacked by mobs.

Note: Actually, looking at recent turn of events in the city there seems to be emerging another security device apart from these two vital symbols. It is a new poster: A poster of Saddam Hussein!

daiquiri

dude …rajkumar saar is long gone ..n so is saddam come to think of it
Nishant Ratnakar

Hey Adi,
Yeah, they’ve long gone. But their cut-outs and posters haven’t . its a vital prop for the protestors here, isn’t it?
Nishant Ratnakar

Hey Adi,Yeah, they’ve long gone. But their cut-outs and posters haven’t . its a vital prop for the protestors here, isn’t it?
Anonymous

Nishant,

Factors 3 and 4 are the obvious conclusions and its really disturbing.

The fact that Saddam Hussien magically turns up in the midst of Banglaore is the most upsetting. Like we didn’t have enough “role models” to divide our population already.

Another key factor behind all this is the fuel being added by politicians using these incidents as tools to gain favour, making martyrs out of villians and playing on the fickle emotions of the masses.

Khurram.

P.S. Hope everythings great at your end. Best wishes.
Anonymous

Nishant,Factors 3 and 4 are the obvious conclusions and its really disturbing. The fact that Saddam Hussien magically turns up in the midst of Banglaore is the most upsetting. Like we didn’t have enough “role models” to divide our population already.Another key factor behind all this is the fuel being added by politicians using these incidents as tools to gain favour, making martyrs out of villians and playing on the fickle emotions of the masses.Khurram. P.S. Hope everythings great at your end. Best wishes.
Shweta

Eh? Who cares if they mean it or not? If I own a shop and need to make sure that the stupid frenzied mob doesn’t t stone what I have worked many years to build, I’d have to put up one of them flags or pictures too. In any case, it is pretty awful (and I am sure, illegal) to have a regional flag. People just seem to forget that we are supposed to be *one* country?!
Shweta

Eh? Who cares if they mean it or not? If I own a shop and need to make sure that the stupid frenzied mob doesn’t t stone what I have worked many years to build, I’d have to put up one of them flags or pictures too. In any case, it is pretty awful (and I am sure, illegal) to have a regional flag. People just seem to forget that we are supposed to be *one* country?!
mouna

i too was thinking about the same. every petrol bunk, every mnc has it. 3 and 4 are the reasons. point:2 might also be true, but not generally.
mouna

i too was thinking about the same. every petrol bunk, every mnc has it. 3 and 4 are the reasons. point:2 might also be true, but not generally.
Nishant Ratnakar

Thanks for your comments and views people. Sorry for the delay in replying.
Nishant Ratnakar

Thanks for your comments and views people. Sorry for the delay in replying.
Srikkanth

Hey nishant
well said..i came to bangalore around 2 yrs back and tht was the first time i realised karnataka has their “own” flag and they can be seen mainly when they stage protests..its ridiculous..

i had tjis experience wid an auto driver..he gave me torn notes as balance and i refused to accept it.he argued for a while but i stayed to my point..then he started threatening me,(this was morning 10:30 near forum)..he asked me whether i knw abt karnataka people and asked me whether i want to be beaten up and which part of my body i want them to remove..i was shocked at this..another autodriver again used the word “karnataka people” when i protested against him who was demanding more money than wht the meter showed..

this is frustrating and not a nice attitude..
Srikkanth

Hey nishantwell said..i came to bangalore around 2 yrs back and tht was the first time i realised karnataka has their “own” flag and they can be seen mainly when they stage protests..its ridiculous..i had tjis experience wid an auto driver..he gave me torn notes as balance and i refused to accept it.he argued for a while but i stayed to my point..then he started threatening me,(this was morning 10:30 near forum)..he asked me whether i knw abt karnataka people and asked me whether i want to be beaten up and which part of my body i want them to remove..i was shocked at this..another autodriver again used the word “karnataka people” when i protested against him who was demanding more money than wht the meter showed..this is frustrating and not a nice attitude..
Anonymous

Nishant, Sweta,

When you are in karnataka, its about kannada & karnataka .. India comes later ..

Sri
Anonymous

Nishant, Sweta,When you are in karnataka, its about kannada & karnataka .. India comes later ..Sri
daiquiri

dude …rajkumar saar is long gone ..n so is saddam come to think of it
ajay b

i am a kannadiga myself. but hate to see this bloody flag being put up everywhere. its an EYESORE. Hate this REGIONALISM.. This attitude will cost a lot for our country.. This is more dangerous than terrorism.