Floods in Assam are an annual ritual. In July 2012, 77 people were killed and nearly 2 million people were affected. In July 2013, flash floods forced 250,000 people to leave their homes. In August 2014, floods claimed the lives of nine people and more than 12 lakh were displaced. These facts were detailed in a 2014 Newslaundry piece when floods in Kashmir received prominent news coverage while floods in Dhemaji were a mere footnote. Last year, there was massive urban flooding in Guwahati and more than a million people were affected across the state.

Suffice to say that floods in Assam have now become a routine story, meriting primetime discussions and frontpage space only if there’s a ‘fresh’ angle to it. This year, pictures of school children in chest-deep water saluting the Indian national flag on Independence Day seemed to have provided that fresh angle. Most of the initial media attention, however, was not directed at the flood-ravaged districts from where these pictures had emerged but the ‘nationalistic’ fervour they seemed to embody.

Sample some of the stories that trickled in when the images first started going ‘viral’. DNA’s report, headlined “This salute to Tricolour by Assam school is simply the best! Here’s why”, stated: “Standing in knee-deep water, the teaching staff and two students of an Assam school are seen saluting the nation flag and shall we add, its simply superb.” Financial Express went with the headline, “Independence Day celebrations in flood hit Assam brings out TRUE meaning of patriotism; check out spectacular photos”. The photo caption under one of the picture states, “At a point of time when these flood victims are suffering, their love for the nation, and patriotic fervour does not seem to be taking a backseat.” India Today’s headline read, “Independence Day in pictures: This is how a flooded Assam is honouring 70 years of freedom”. The copy stated, “Assam has not forgotten to hoist the national flag today”. Indian Express’ headline stated, “On Independence Day, these flag-hoisting photos from flood-hit Assam will leave you amazed”, while British daily The Telegraph’s web copy led with the line: These patriotic schoolchildren didn’t let waist-high floodwater stop them from celebrating Indian Independence Day.

Times Now went with the headline, Come hail or floodwater: Picture of teacher, students saluting tricolour in flood-hit Assam goes viral. The copy said, “The photo was shared multiple times on social media sites with many appreciating the patriotism and love for the nation that is evident in the picture.”

Indeed many of these copies reflect how the picture was received on social media — most of the reactions underscored that image was the definition of ‘true patriotism’.

Some new media outlets like Huffington Post, however, underscored the grim perspective of nationalism in times of televised “patriotism tests” of which these images were a testament. InUth stated that celebrating these images was sheer hypocrisy and asked if the nation had failed these children. ScoopWhoop wondered if the images “should make us swell with pride or hang our heads in shame”.

The Telegraph on its front-page today has detailed the origins of the image and put the focus squarely on the flood-ravaged district of Dhubri in Lower Assam.

The story details how the teacher in the picture, Mizanur Rahman’s teenaged cousin Rashidul Rahman drowned a few hours after the flag hoisting. The inside copy informs that floods in Assam had so far claimed 100 lives. It details how the school managed to hoist the flag in the floodwaters. The school’s headmaster Tazem Sikdar tells The Telegraph — “Since it was chest-deep water for the kids, we selected two Class III students, Jiarul Ali Khan and Haidor Ali Khan, who know swimming, while the rest waited on the road.” He adds, “We hoisted the flag, sang Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram while the rest of the students followed us from the road.”

Speaking to Newslaundry, Kalyan Barooah, special correspondent, Assam Tribune, said that a crucial aspect of the story was how children and teachers went to the extreme limit to give proof to the state administration that they celebrated Independence Day. “This is the most unfortunate part, small children put their lives in danger just for proof that they celebrated the day. Secondly, this is just one school. Many schools in Assam are underwater, this should be highlighted in the national media.”

Indeed the tone of much of the initial reportage was feel-good, not questioning the reasons why the school teacher and principal may have felt compelled to carry on with I-day ceremonies despite the deluge. Few reports felt it important to give precedence to the extent of devastation on the ground over the narrative of ‘true patriotism’.

Samrat X, a freelance journalist and Newslaundry columnist, puts it in perspective. “The media’s continuing obsession with minorities and nationalism reflects a lack of imagination, and perhaps of trust. I do not doubt the loyalty of my fellow citizens towards the country. Nor do I find ostentatious displays of nationalism by anyone, minority or majority, to be greatly good,” he says, adding that it was an arresting image and worth a photo caption item or an annotated photo. “Anything more is, like dragging children into chest-deep water to salute the flag, a bit over the top.”