BHADERWAH, Aug 14: Three sisters from Jammu and Kashmir’s remote Dhadkai village, popularly known as the “Silent Village of India”, have brought the spirit of Independence Day to their community by stitching and distributing more than 150 tricolours ahead of August 15.
Reshma Bibi, 26, Parveen Kousar, 24, and Saira Khatoon, 22, who are unable to speak or hear, took up the initiative as part of the nationwide ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. Their efforts have ensured that the national flag reaches homes across the remote hilltop village in Doda district.
The sisters were so determined to make the flags that they refused to eat until their father, Reham Ali, agreed to bring them the fabric needed to stitch the tricolours.
“I was in the meadows with my sheep, and when I returned home, they made it clear through their gestures that they wanted the tricolour cloth. They were so determined that they even refused to eat until I agreed,” Ali said.
He went to the market, purchased the required fabric and handed it to his daughters.
“In the past five days, they have stitched and distributed more than 150 tricolours. I am immensely proud of my daughters and what they have accomplished,” he said.
Situated at an altitude of around 9,150 feet and lacking road connectivity, Dhadkai is home to nearly 2,000 people, all belonging to the tribal Gujjar community. More than 90 residents have congenital hearing and speech impairments, earning the village its distinctive “Silent Village” tag.
Although residents have known about the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign since its launch in 2022, the initiative had not previously reached Dhadkai-B.
Local resident Jamat Danish said the wait to see the national flag flying from rooftops had finally ended.
“Almost every rooftop is now adorned with the tricolour, while children can be seen waving the national flag with pride,” Danish said, adding that the sisters had brought new energy to the otherwise quiet village.
The community has also developed its own unique form of sign language over the decades, which is widely understood and used by residents to communicate.
Village elder and former sarpanch Haji Abdul Latief, 75, was among those who received tricolours from the sisters. He said their initiative had instilled a strong sense of pride and participation among villagers.
“It is heartwarming to see that despite their disability, our daughters have shown such determination and made the entire village proud. Their effort will surely inspire others,” Latief said.
He added that the sisters had demonstrated how patriotism and a sense of belonging can be expressed without saying a single word.
