What the Tricolour means to vagabonds?

Urchins at major traffic junctions make a buck or two ahead of Independence Day

Gourang eyes the traffic signal as if his life depended on it. He has to sell the plastic flags before the red light pops up. Swifty wading his way through two-wheelers and tapping on cars coaxing people to buy the tricolour, he is a boy with a mission. Priced at just Rs 5 each, he sells the national flag every year.

Independence Day does not mean anything to him; all that matters is a few bucks that he can take home.Street children who normally do menial jobs, sell the national flag a few days before Independence Day. The flags made of plastic, may not be appealing at all but some do buy them especially families who travel with children. Suresh, a resident of Chilkalguda bought two flags after his son pleaded him to buy.

Unwilling to be photographed, fearing they would be sent to the rehabilitation home, they reluctantly answered questions. Gopal, a seller said, “He bought the flags from a friend who in turn had got them from Begum Bazaar.”

“It is mostly children who want to buy the flags. Adults want flags made of cloth but we do not have that much money to buy them. The paper and plastic flags are cheap,” said Gopal.

“I have to sell another 100 flags and I will be going to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s movie on Independence Day,” said Gourang. A movie followed by a plate of rice and dal is what these street children are content with. That is Independence for the street children.