Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

Hmmm an interesting story..is the Indian flag considered an emotive issue the same way some Americans think of their flag?

Khaleej Times

AFP)

6 July 2005

NEW DELHI - India is to allow national sports teams and fashion designers to display the country’s tricolour on clothes – but not below the belt.

The cabinet has approved an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. This removes sweeping restrictions on the display of the national flag provided clothes do not show ”disrespect”, local media reported Wednesday.

The tricolour – of orange, white and green with a wheel of time in the centre – can now be worn by national sports players, on national costume and on military uniforms according to the amendment to be introduced into parliament, the Hindustan Times reported.

However the flag cannot appear on lingerie or other accessories worn below the waist, the newspaper said. Embroidering or printing it on cushions, gloves, handkerchiefs or napkins remains forbidden.

The decision to amend the law was sparked by a home ministry decree in February that banned cricketers and other sports stars from displaying the flag anywhere on their kit.

This included star batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s helmet or captain Sourav Ganguly’s trademark batting gloves painted in the colours of the Indian flag.

The decree was seen as a government attempt to hit back at the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which takes pride in its autonomous nature.

Fashion designer Malini Ramani has faced a court case for the past six years after being charged with wearing a dress woven as a flag at the first Indian Fashion Week show.

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we’re Indian..

Ullu kay paTHay hain saarey… I have a pair of Union Jack boxer shorts..the Mrs. finds them tres sexy. :love: these guys need to get laid..will cure all.

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

lol maybe so..but I'd imagine many other nations have laws protecting national "honour" ..certain symbols (flags, statues etc) have an emotive value after all..anyway some opinions and background info from Indians would be appreciated

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we’re Indian..

People have stupid ideas about honor. Getting upset over flag burning, quran burning, janam patri burning..all this siht is just stupid. If any of these aholes touch the KFC in Vasant Vihar, I am personally going to kick their ass. :mad:

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we’re Indian..

^ oh please :rolleyes: gujratis cant do crap.

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

Indians wear flag with pride

By Monica Chadha
BBC News, Delhi

India has had strict regulations on where flags can be displayed
Years after having won independence, Indians are now free to wear images of their flag on their clothing.

But not where it hurts national sentiments - below the belt. The flag can only be displayed on garments above the waist.

The federal government has passed an amendment easing the restrictions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act (1971).

Caps and T-shirts are in but swimsuits and evening gowns are still a no-no.

Neither can the flag be embroidered or printed on cushion covers, gloves, handkerchiefs, napkins and dress material.

Only senior government leaders and state institutions are allowed to fly it on their premises.

People were allowed to fly the flag and wear tricolour badges on Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

The fight to ease the restrictions began in 1995, when industrialist and present Congress party MP, Naveen Jindal, began legal action demanding that all Indians and institutions be allowed to fly the national flag respectfully.

The court ruled in his favour in 2001, leading to this week's amendment.

Mr Jindal told The Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday the move was a "good start", adding: "In due course, I'm sure other restrictions will be removed too."

Popular designer Malini Ramani wore a strappy knee-length dress that used the saffron, white and green stripes with the time piece in the centre to a fashion show in 2000.

The event sparked off a national debate and led to police action against the designer.

A case filed against her is still going through the courts.

Hindu symbols have also caused problems - Bollywood star Sonali Bendre fell foul of the police in 2001 for wearing a short, ochre-coloured top inscribed with Hindu religious phrases.

Delhi-based designer Nikhil Mehra told the BBC he welcomed the new ruling.

"We Indians are very patriotic by nature and after 57 years of independence, it is only fair that we be allowed to express our patriotism," he said.

But he also said saffron and green were not suited to Indian skin tones, while white in India represents the colour of death.

"The flag colours are very mature and sombre, unlike say the British or American flag colours. These are very sporty colours, look good on almost any person and people don't mind wearing them.

"But our national colours don't represent fashion."

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

what a turn off..I was hoping to stitch a shorts from Indian jhanda in such a way that the center of the Charkha fall on my behinds. That would be heck of a patriotic statement.....

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we’re Indian..

Channji, In your honor I would like to have a Chann (from Pakistan Jhanda :jhanda: ) on my behind.

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

i just read verizon's thread in "Life 1" thread. was one of those you?

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

Sindhis have this culturally designed piece of cloth call ajrak. Its mostly worn as a shawl and is, alongwith the sindhi topi, the most popular gift given to guests and etc. Anyway so i remember once these hardcore sindhi guys making a big fuss about women making shalwar kameez out of ajrak material.

Re: Nothing below the belt please..we're Indian..

well i dont like it when i see pakistani flags here n there on the roads , torn n mixed up with dirt after the independence day, ur national flag does deserve respect , if u can give it , then dont hoist it.