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Latika Sehajpal
Freedom, a seven-letter word which shapes our life from birth to death. In earlier times, it meant the pleasure of the ruler over the ruled. The king, if benevolent, gave certain freedoms to his people. As monarchies crumbled and democracies arose, freedom took the form of human rights. This word brought war to the shores of the seven seas. Freedom to rule against freedom to not be enslaved. Everyone’s desires could not be fulfilled, so by the words of enlightened men, social rules curbing personal freedom were established, giving the shape to constitutions of countries. It takes away the free will of an individual and transforms it into the accepted will of society. Its strong aura makes people kill themselves to attain it. Much like godliness, which is unattainable, yet a human devotes his entire lifetime to possess it. Freedom is a kingdom of free people.
Are we free? Every minute of our existence, we are fighting off labels, groupings, boxing us into divisions. The fight is not against one party or one nation, it is against the idea of division that drives humankind. What freedom do we celebrate on Independence Day? Which country is free of racism, sexism, neocolonialism and the newest scourge of majoritarianism? Are we really free to express what troubles us, what we see happening around us? Will we not be humiliated and trolled by those who sit behind anonymous screens and threaten us for having a contrarian opinion? Death comes screeching in the face of a mob.
Are things headed the right way? Do we have any freedom left to be honest? Can we survive among the muzzled voices of real poverty? What independence have we got from the lies and deceit of those who ruled us — in the name of monarchy and in the name of democracy? Are our political representatives representing the people? Do they walk barefoot to high offices, through the rain and quake, as the common man does? Is their house as small as the average man on the road? The talk of independence and freedom is illusionary. My ranting is a sign of independence, but I am scared for my life, as I would be in a monarchy. So, this is not freedom, not to me.
But freedom thrives on hope. Hope that people will understand what a country means. Hope that they will work towards saving the planet from their own kind. Hope that ambitions of a few will be checked and balanced by collective intellect of sane men and women. Many many wars ago, the world was in a race to end itself. But it was hope, words and actions of brave men and women that saved it from imploding. My hope is that the hard-won freedom from despots is preserved for future generations.
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