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‘Kites are the spirit of freedom, no law can stop us from flying them’

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Old Delhi residents are unaware of a 1934 law that bans kite-flying. It says a kite is an aircraft and flying it in a careless way can earn jail term of two years.

New Delhi: Kites are a part of Independence Day celebrations that cannot be done without, say residents of Lal Kuan. This lower-middle class neighbourhood in Old Delhi houses a wholesale market for kites, and people still enjoy flying them.

While kite-flying and kite-making have evolved over the years, flying them on 15 August still epitomises the spirit of freedom, they say.

“There is a sense of glory in kite-flying. On Independence Day, the sky is filled with colourful kites. While most of these traditional sports are dying these days, I believe that we need to keep kite-flying alive,” said Faiz Ansari.


Also read: What’s the point of listening to Modi’s Independence Day speech if we’ve to fact check it?


Recently, the Delhi government issued an order, directing all schools in the city to discourage students from flying kites, to prevent injuries caused to humans and birds alike. Kite-flying might have fatal consequences, since the string (maanja) is traditionally glass-coated. The government has also issued radio advertisements discouraging the use of sharp-edged maanja.

Illustration by Soham Sen | ThePrint.in
Illustration by Soham Sen | ThePrint.in

Bans and restrictions on kite flying are nothing new. There is a provision under the Aircraft Act, 1934, that makes “negligent kite-flying” a punishable offence. Under Section 11 of the act, a person can be sentenced to two years in prison if the kite is flown in a careless manner. A kite, according to this act, is an aircraft, and all aircraft in India need to have a licence. It is probably not a coincidence that kites were banned by a British Raj-era law — protests against the Simon Commission in 1928 used kites to urge the visiting delegation to go back.

The kite-sellers and kite-fliers of Lal Kuan, however, are not aware of this law. “I have not read about such a ridiculous law,” said Jawaid Ahmed, a kite-seller.

“I think everyone flies kites in every corner of the country during Sankranti and Independence Day. Even if there is a law preventing kite flying, we are not aware of it,” said Mohammad Shahid, another seller.


Also read: Millennials’ wishlist for PM Modi on Independence Day: Act more, speak less


“Since our forefathers, fathers and brothers have flown them, no law can stop us from making and flying kites,” added another seller, Mohammad Salman.

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