Day 62-Happy Independence Day

It seems so clichéd that I must write about Independence today when my country is celebrating the 70th Independence Day. I have never thought of myself as a patriotic person, but for some reason today feels special.

When I read stories of the trauma undergone by people enslaved by another country, I shudder. What if I had to live a life like that-under the clutches of somebody else and had absolutely no voice nor strength to break free. Such a life is not worthy of being lived..a punishment even.So I am immensely grateful for what I have today...something that I might, like many others be taking for granted now and then.

But are we really free I sometimes wonder? With thousand issues faced by us today--gender inequality, classism, racism and what not, can we call ourselves truly "Free". The problem is freedom is a relative term and can be defined in many many ways.

I have been fortunate enough to live a free life-well..a nearly free life.
I can voice my opinions openly, talk about issues that disturb me, go out when I want to, wear what I want to, eat what I want to....
As I write all of these, there a few disclaimers that my brain automatically records...

I can voice my opinions openly(as long as I am not doing so stupidly to be traced by people who could easily take my life)
talk about issues openly(at the risk of being judged and branded)
Go out when I want to(at the risk of...well....)
Wear what I want to( as long as I do not provoke another man..but wait...men stare at my breasts even when they are covered in the dupatta)
Eat what I want to(unless I want to eat beef....)

What is freedom to me, I ask myself. I struggle all day, to define this word for myself in as few words as possible but still encompass all that I want to say....

I define it like this.....

A person is truly free when he/she is able to conscientiously embrace or let go of something without the fear of being judged

Let me explain the keywords...

conscientiously- when one's action is in complete accordance with one's conscience -not affected or influenced by a person's /people's opinion

to embrace or let go of - a habit, culture, ritual, religion, dress code, opinion, way of life

fear of being judged- this I think is the key term. I can even today, do a lot of things without giving a "damn" about another's opinion/ruthlessness/judgement. But I don't think I would call this freedom...that would be "independence". I am free only when I know that I am free of judgement.

While I tell myself that my definition is idealistic and may be even borderline escapism...it doesn't stop me from dreaming of such a state.

Happy Independence Day!---(It is not called "freedom day for a reason perhaps...hmmmm)





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