In our apartment complex, we just had the hoisting of the national flag by a resident who was 10 years old on August 15, 1947. She recalled the excitement of those days, and said she didn’t know exactly what was meant by freedom. She exhorted all of us to unitedly work for the progress of our nation.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH FREEDOM
As we celebrate Independence Day 2025, it’s important to remember that we have enjoyed this liberty for a long time now.
In the years immediately after 1947, the celebrations were all about “winning this freedom”. It made sense.
But, today, these celebrations should be about “what we have done with this freedom”.
THE PLUSES …
Achievements? Plenty of them.
We’ve grown over the decades and transformed as a nation.
We are no longer dependent on others for our survival. The extent of our dependence on other countries is only as much as we have to in today’s interconnected, multipolar world.
…. AND THE MINUSES
Alongside the celebrations, we also need to figure out where we have fallen short, and what more needs to be done.
Sometimes, it feels as if for many people, freedom has come to mean freedom to disregard rules; the absence of a healthy fear of law is all too apparent at times.
While we sing paeans to those who made sacrifices, we need to ask ourselves, are we making (or at least willing to make) any sacrifices to build the nation the freedom struggle gave us?
WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO ME
The right to vote, to express my opinion, or to question authority are all of course vital pillars of democracy, but they are not the full picture.
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It is the ability to choose where I live, what work I do, the people I associate with, and the values I cherish -- without fear or coercion.
Freedom for me is also the liberty to decide how I spend my time, and the liberty to pursue my passions.
WHAT NOT TO DO
For me, freedom is also not just the liberty to do what I want; it is also about what I should not do.
Because, freedom comes with responsibility.
Safeguarding our hard-won freedom calls for restraint, self-discipline, and respect for the common good.
When we disregard laws, exploit loopholes, or act without concern for others (we see a lot of these in our daily lives, just look around!) we only weaken the structure of our nation that protects our freedom.
There is true freedom only when people exercise that liberty responsibly. Or in other words, there is a need to balance personal desires with collective well-being.
Freedom is not measured by how much we can get away with. It is measured by how we behave in ways that strengthen, rather than erode, our values and systems that keep us free.
On the present day I feel freedom of speech is totally lost
ReplyDeleteI wish we regain the fabric of country and every other intellectual doesn't thump chest with hyper nationalism and understands true meaning of patriotism.....but I don't see any hope soon!
I only see people fuelling more negativity , pedalling and believing all the ulterior propoganda
I just wish we could all live in same sovereignty, secularity yet again
Happy independence day
Hi Afshan -- What you say about freedom of speech is very true. It's across the board, and across the world.
DeleteCritical comments, especially on political topics, seem to offend not only government functionaries but even ordinary people like our friends and relatives! This wasn't case about 10 or 15 years ago.
Some attibute it to the impact of powerful messaging on social media.
Hypernationalism is another phenomenon we are seeing. I don't believe in it.
Patriotism is not about flying the national flag. It has any meaning only if we are law-abiding and socially conscious citizens.
Thank you, and Happy Independence Day to you too!
A very profound and insightful post on the true meaning of freedom. I'm reminded of Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where The Mind Is Without Fear..."
ReplyDeleteHi Marietta -- Thank you for your comments.
DeleteNobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's poem is very relevant even today. Here is it:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
I have no doubt, Pradeep, that if India is populated by many such as you, its future is in good hands. Beware of autocracy, however!
ReplyDeleteThank you, David. The problem always is the blurring of the line between democracy and autocracy. Democracy is only as good as its politicians and people. When democracy recedes, autocracy advances.
DeleteVery Happy Independence Day.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat an important day
ReplyDeleteIt is, to a great extent. A day to introspect and to envision.
DeleteThese celebrations are important, to remember what was gained and to remember what still needs to be gained.
ReplyDeleteYes, absolutely.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteYour final paragraph encapsulates the very essence! I do hope that you had a peaceful and worthwhile day yesterday. I do worry for India in it's current frenzy... then again, I have the same concerns for other parts of this self-destructive world... YAM xx
DeleteThis is not the first time in our history that we are having concerns about the state of the Union. Only that the concerns are of a different nature now. Like you rightly said, India is not the only region where people are worried. I see the whole thing from the point of view of social evolution which is a continuous process. One gives way to the other. Waiting for better times.
Hi Pradeep - wise words from you and from your commenters. We really need to adhere and realise the value of your last para ...
ReplyDelete"Freedom is not measured by how much we can get away with. It is measured by how we behave in ways that strengthen, rather than erode, our values and systems that keep us free."
I totally concur ... we are in a challenging age - with thoughts - Hilary
Thank you. Challenging times - yes. I just hope this will run its course, and that we have better times ahead.
DeleteFreedom is responsibility. That's why Sartre said we're "condemned" to be free. It's not easy to be responsibly free.
ReplyDeleteHi Tomi - Indeed, the path to good times is never easy. We need to make those sacrifices.
DeleteIndia is on its way to be powerful voice in the world. Ignore India at your peril. It is unfortunate that so many still live in poverty. Education is the key to solving this.
ReplyDeleteThat's the irony. The gap between what we have and what we don't is very wide. You are right, education is the key. Hopefully, things will change for the better.
DeleteI echo David's comment. ♥️ Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada 🇨🇦
ReplyDeleteHi Linda - Thank you so much :-)
DeleteI feel we have made commendable progress i the last seven decades considering the impoverished state in which we were left by British rules. It was a gigantic task but we made significant progress albeit slow. From the state of begging for grains, we have become self sufficient. There has been industrial development too. The average has gone up from low 27 to comparable level with advanced nations.
ReplyDeleteUnlike others we are a diverse country with many languages, customs, culture and geographical differences. We can be genuinely proud of our progress. I am not sure whether state reorganisation on basis of languages was right to make the nation cohesive.
I feel destiny plays a significant part in the lives of nations as in the case of individuals. The entire population should stand for unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the nation for its overall growth.
Hi KP - Thank you so much for your very detailed insights. You have put the whole scenario in the proper context.
DeleteYou are right, in retrospect, language might not have been a good basis to reorganise the states.
One alternative could have been economic viability and development potential.
All said and done unless each citizen puts into practice in their daily lives ways and means that would make India stronger and developed, nothing thing really matters.