Nepal's flagman starts journey to promote national unity

Laxmi Narayan Shilpakar, a Nepalese man popularly known as the flagman today started a journey across the country carrying the unique national flag to strengthen national unity among people at a time when political unrest is brewing in southern Nepal.
Shilpakar's journey carrying the world's only national flag which is not rectangular or square in shape began from Taplejung in the far-east and will end at Kanchanpur in the far west crossing through all 75 districts.
He was seen off at the Kathmandu Durbar Square by senior artist and former Vice-chancellor of Nepal Fine Art Academy Kiran Manandhar.
Shilpakar is scheduled to reach all 75 districts carrying the national flag with a mission to promote recognition and significance of the national flag and create awareness among the people about it.

His mission is to unite the people of all regions, the mountain, the hilly region and the southern plains with the bond of national unity.
His ambition to travel through all the districts of the country at a time when the country is facing national crisis due to the blockade in the southern plains hold special significance, observers said here.

Shilpakar, 60, says he was inspired to undertake the journey carrying the national flag as it was a symbol of nationality, patriotism and identity.
The national flag of Nepal is unique in shape as it is the only non-rectangular shaped flag found all over the world. It is characterised by the combination of two red pennons with a blue border, with the symbols of a sun and crescent moon.

He has asked all to recognise, respect and fly the national flag as it was directly connected with our nation and nationality as well as unique in shape, style, colour and symbols.
Earlier, he was seen at Durbar Square in the heart of the capital city, holding and waving a large national flag every day and was known as the Flag Man.
Madhesi groups of Indian-origin have been staging protests in various parts of southern Nepal against the seven-province model of the newly-promulgated Constitution for more then two months now.
The major demands of them are to re-draw the federal provinces by separating the Terai plains from the hilly region and inclusion of more rights and representation for them.