Since 1946, Gaffar Bhai’s family has been selling Indian flags with deep respect, creating jobs for Muslim artisans and fostering harmony in India’s diverse society
NEW DELHI — In the bustling lanes of Old Delhi’s Sadar Market stands a humble shop, brightly decorated with rows of colourful Indian flags fluttering gently in the breeze. This is the shop of Mohammad Gaffar, fondly known as ‘Gaffar Bhai’ — or more famously, the ‘Flag Man’ of Sadar. While the official world knows him by his given name, locals recognise him by the symbol he has nurtured for decades: the Indian Tricolour.
But Gaffar Bhai’s connection to the flag is not a recent affair. It began long before he was born, in the thick of India’s struggle for freedom. His grandfather, Abdul Rahman, bravely stood at the busy crossroads of Sadar in 1946, handing out Tricolours to fellow freedom fighters when displaying the flag was risky and even punishable. This legacy of love for the nation has been passed down through generations. Today, it is Gaffar Bhai’s eldest son, Abdul, who has taken up the mantle, continuing the family’s proud tradition.
“We are not just selling flags; we are selling our pride, our identity,” Abdul says. “The Tricolour is more than cloth. For us, it is our breath, our soul. It is above religion, it is above everything else.”
Thanks to campaigns like ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ (Every Home a Flag), the family’s business has seen a remarkable rise. Where once only 10 to 20 artisans worked at the shop, now their numbers have doubled. Many small-scale Muslim craftsmen buy flags from here to sell in their own neighbourhoods, spreading the spirit of patriotism while earning a livelihood.
Abdul proudly shares, “This campaign has brought not just respect for the flag but real work and income for many poor families like ours. We are grateful to the prime minister and Delhi chief minister for supporting this. It has helped people from our community find dignity and jobs.”
Abdul emphasises that the flag is not a Hindu or Muslim symbol. “It stands for India — our country, our unity. Muslim or Hindu, it belongs to all of us equally.” His words reflect a larger truth often overlooked in communal narratives. The family’s shop bustles day and night preparing flags not only for Delhi but for states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and cities like Mumbai. Orders even come from abroad, showing how far the family’s work and respect for the flag have travelled.
The shop is a vivid reminder that India’s strength lies in its unity. The flag, carefully stitched and sold by Muslim hands in Old Delhi, is a living testament that patriotism and faith can coexist without conflict.
Razia Begum, who has stitched flags at home and earns her living this way, says, “This work has given me respect and income. We feel proud to contribute to the nation this way.”
Local customer Arjun Singh, who buys flags every year from Gaffar Bhai, adds, “The Tricolour is for all Indians. I see the hard work of this family every year. It teaches us that patriotism is not about religion, it is about love for the country.”
At a time when voices of division sometimes dominate, the story of Gaffar Bhai and his family shines as a beacon of harmony and national pride. They remind us that the Indian flag does not belong to any one religion or community; it belongs to every Indian.
As Abdul sums up, “Our flag is our life. We live for it, we work for it. It is the symbol that binds us all as one India.
