A group of people standing in front of the Indian flag - Karma Lakelands.

CONSECRATING THE BANNER OF PATRIOTISM

An Indian flag being hoisted during daytime with people gathered around - Karma Lakelands.
An Indian flag being hoisted during daytime - Karma Lakelands.

India’s national flag is a depiction of its social, economic, and political values, representing our national honour and collective sentiments. It embodies the principles on which our nation is founded. For the people of India, it is not simply a flag, but one that holds immense cultural and spiritual significance.

Flags were originally used in warfare as insignia of leadership and as rallying points for the cause and country they represented. Today, they are widely used for ceremonial purposes and serve as a symbolic display of our pride, honour, and the freedom we share as a nation.

In the words of Ashwani Khurana, “The year was 2010, and the occasion was solemn. There had been 2 young deaths in the family and, to put it mildly, the atmosphere was as melancholic as it could be.

Sikh ragis were invited for kirtan, and their singing generated deeply healing energy. I escorted the ragis to their car and, as they were leaving, I was taken aback to see a brand-new Mercedes-Benz arrive to pick them up. The venue was K Villa, Vasant Kunj—the Karma Lakelands headquarters-cum-Khurana family home.”

Interestingly, the lead ragi turned out to be Daljeet Singh, the Founder-Chairman of AIPL, a high-class boutique real estate company.

“The national flag and the anthem ritual at K Villa began after it became legal for individual citizens to exercise their right to fly their own flags. This was in November 2022, when Daljeet, who is now one of my dearest friends, joined us for evening tea at our golf and lakeside outdoor restaurant, right across from the earlier 12-foot national flag.

The national anthem is observed here with staff and visitors joining in at 5 p.m., 365 days a year. Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated with a particular ceremony. Daljeet joined us in singing the national anthem and later mentioned that all their projects feature a 100-foot-high national flag. He suggested that, to sustain the spirit of patriotism and environmental responsibility—another expression of nationalism within Team Karma—an imposing 100-foot flag would be a fitting addition.”

I responded that cash flows were somewhat stretched, and we were pre-committed to more immediate priorities, although it was certainly on our “to-do” list. Daljeet immediately and emphatically insisted that AIPL sponsor the erection of the 100-foot flag.

“As a believer in grace, both in receiving and in giving, I immediately agreed to this generous offer. We commenced work on the flag that very day—22 November, the birthday of Diki, the First Lady of Karma Lakelands—with the aim of formally inaugurating it on Republic Day, 26 January 2023. Indeed, the engineering and construction teams of AIPL and Karma Lakelands met the stringent deadline.

Somewhere along the way, a numerologist suggested a height of 108 feet instead of the proposed 100, and that is what we now have.

In a telephonic conversation, Mr. Khurana further shared his views on what it means to be a patriot. A patriot, he believes, is someone who cares for the environment, is considerate and respectful, and remains mindful of their actions. It is a reflection of a deep commitment to upholding the ideals of sustainability and spirituality.

A flag is, therefore, a distillation of the philosophy and ideals of those who carry it. It is a living embodiment of that ideal, not merely an installation fluttering in the wind. True to this belief, and with great pride, we honour our country’s flag by singing the national anthem with full fervour and devotion every single day at Karma Lakelands.

The very presence of a majestic flag swaying gently in the sky serves as a silent reminder for us to awaken our own sense of patriotism for our great nation.

The Banner of Patriotism at Karma Lakelands remains a trailblazer, true to the blue Indian skies of freedom and joy.

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