The University of North Texas in Denton raised the flag of India alongside the flags of America and Texas. On August 15, which is India’s Independence Day, UNT displayed India’s flag outside the University Union.
India’s flag reportedly flew at the same level as the American flag, and slightly higher than the Texan flag, according to images the ISA posted to Instagram.
The Indian Students’ Association hoisted the country’s flag at 9 a.m. that day, according to an Instagram post. They told attendees to “dress in your finest ethnic wear,” and aimed to “proudly raise our Tiranga and honor our nation.”
“On this Indian Independence Day, we proudly celebrated the spirit of freedom, unity, and heritage,” the student group wrote. “ISA is honored to have hoisted the Indian flag high at UNT — flying proudly beside the USA and Texas flags, symbolizing harmony and shared values.”
As India’s flag was reportedly flown at the same level as the U.S. flag, with the U.S. flag positioned to the observer’s left, this arrangement complies with the U.S. Flag Code, as the U.S. flag was not placed below India’s flag, and it was on the observer’s left (its own right). However, the code emphasizes that no other flag should be in a position of “superior prominence or honor” to the U.S. flag. While the equal height does not explicitly violate the code, the prominence clause is subject to interpretation, and some might argue that equal height with a foreign flag could be seen as diminishing the U.S. flag’s prominence.
Texas Flag Code also dictates that the U.S. flag takes precedence and can be placed at the same level or higher than the Texas flag; however, at the UNT event on August 15, if India’s flag were flown higher than the Texas flag, as indicated by viewers, it would violate the Texas Flag Code by not giving the Texas flag proper prominence.
“Jai Hind,” the group posted, which translates to “Victory to India.”
The Dallas Express reached out to UNT for comment, but did not hear back.