In search of 'Freedom' in an independent India


 


By Sruthi Sree, Chennai

Mangaluru, Aug 15: India celebrates its 71st Independence Day this year on August 15 and every citizen cheered for the everlasting glory of democratic India. But if we look deep into the Indian society or its culture, we will realize that India is not yet independent. Even in this developmental era of 21st century the Indian mind-set still remains stuck to traditional customs and conventions, which are eventually disrupting the humanity in people.

Today, India is being haunted by major issues, such as honour killing and moral policing. Even though the topics seem to be controversial there are some links that connect both together. Honour killing could be defined as the illegal way of killing a person by a family member, if she/he is founded to dishonour the family name and usually it’s the girl who is the victim of this cruel practice.

Indian Constitution has guaranteed human rights to its citizens which includes right to marry anyone of their choice. In that case, honour killing is against the Indian law, but still there is no strict action taken to abolish this practice which is reflected in the insecurity of the citizens in this country. There are many cases recorded on honour killing especially in the northern part of India.

Reciprocally, the issue prevailing in South India is moral policing, especially in the Mangaluru. Recently, an issue of moral policing took place in Mangaluru, where a boy was harassed and attacked by a group of Bajrang Dal members, for talking to a girl in public. Who decides what is morally right and wrong?

It seems that India, which takes pride in its 'Unity in Diversity', is taking a beating when religion plays a critical role in dividing and destroying national solidarity. It is sad that even the educated people feel proud to play the religious card when it suits them. We must realize that this mind setwould someday destroy our unification process for which our democracy is known worldwide.

In earlier times we built boundaries using wooden sticks but now it’s religion that separates people. The government should propose a well defined law against these illegal practices or activities so that people could enjoy the freedom that the constitution guarantees them. Humanity should come out of the vicious circle of religion.

There are many incidents which have taken place in India before 1992. It began after demolition of Babri Masjid. The selfish governing leaders of the country got everything done to meet their personal needs and wants. The Blue Star operation was formed by Indira Gandhi and she instructed them to kill several people inside Amritsar complex. It was the first freedom impeachment which took place in India. According to the president of Dakshina Kannada PUCL unit, Patrick Bernardine D’Sa (known as P B D’Sa) who is a human rights activist in Mangaluru, "Education is the backbone of the society and it is considered as a tool to change the world. Without education we never get our freedom. In India we have one unavoidable right that is freedom of speech and expression. But it’s gone. As a human being we have a right to express our thoughts and opinions without fearing anyone. But it has been misused, since many years. Recently the press also have lost their right to freedom of speech and expression. Press is considered as the fourth estate of the constitution.”

But what happened to Kanhaiya Kumar (a student from Delhi University) who was arrested under defamation case because he opined his point of view on Kasab. The consequences were horrible, it was exactly the breaching of freedom of speech and expression. Democratic way of life in India is totally in a wrong scenario. There are many other examples also. In the year of 2016 two names were used by many critiques and writers. Kalburgi and Perumal Murugan. Kalburgi was an activist and an orator, who used to conduct speeches for upholding the nation and eliminating the atrocities against the citizen. But what happened to him? We should think about the current scenario of the nation’s authenticity. Democracy is gone forever without freedom and opposition parties. In India education is the unavoidable right of every one. With the use of education we can raise our voice against illegal activities and education is always considered as the voice for the voiceless.

Last year, in the year 2016 the name of a PhD scholar Rohith Vemula made sensational news. He was a student of Hyderabad University. The real turn out of events remains a mystery. In this case officials from the university had various illegal hidden agendas. Although India is a democratic country, no one has the right to openly express their thoughts and opinions. After winning independence for us from the brutal British governance Gandhi won us freedom. But at present we seem to have lost it all.

"Girls can’t walk unaccompanied on the road. Our freedom of travelling is restricted by someone," said a student from Srinivas college, Mangaluru. "I am scared of walking alone on the road. We can never predict what will happen next. I do not want to become another Nirbhaya or Soumya. As a girl I want to tell you that our freedom has not yet come. If we really want to enjoy real freedom everyone should be made aware about the importance of freedom and its aspects."

Thrippaghoottur gram panchayat member Chandri V K commented, "As a leader I should be responsible to take care of my area I am responsible to spread awareness on protection of girls and their freedom. So we should first provide education among children, they are the future of the nation." An official from the Centre for Integrated Learning, Mangaluru added, "Our freedom has vanished, now it’s not a democratic country at all it’s a demon country, even though we are not ready to accept this truth, we should."

"When the word freedom comes to our mind, we remember Gandhiji as the prime person involved in the freedom struggle. He won freedom for Indians, but people started looting their freedom for personal satisfaction," said a retired professor Suresh from Mangaluru.

In terms of the Constitution and legality we are an independent India. Independence does not mean timely elections and political governance but independence from evils like poverty, illiteracy and oppression.


(The writer is a student pursuing her graduation in journalism and mass communication from Nitte University)

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vivek kp, Manglore

    Wed, Aug 16 2017

    I read ur article on Freedom in an indipendent india, on the eve of idipendence day you wrote a good article and u excatly pointed out that the sad part of freedom . Through this article we should comeup with some solutions and changes for the future glorious nation.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Marol, Udupi

    Wed, Aug 16 2017

    Freedom is not there outside. The real freedom should pour out from within. Only political freedom is not real freedom. The real freedom is out pouring of political, religious, psychological, individual and community freedom. Real freedom is not only of one or some person's freedom but the real freedom is of each and every individual's freedom in all aspects of life all over the world. The real freedom is possible when each and every individual from all over the world willingly aspects the personal responsibility of being good. The real freedom is possible when absence of bad exists, fear disappears and humanness overwhelms. Not just shouting freedom, freedom by a particular country at a particular day of the year does not make us free but it is the real out poring of HUMANNESS from within from each and every partical of each and every human being at each and every day of life. Into that haven of freedom freedom, let each and every being awake. Thank you and God bless each and every one of us.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • NN, Mangalore

    Wed, Aug 16 2017

    Nice article as a student of journalism. If you look deep into the governance of every countries in the world, I think India has one of the best democratic system in the world. The only problem is that the people misuse the system for their own selfish gain -- be it personal, cultural, political or religious. One of the problems we can see that the Administrative branch, which suppose to function independently, is virtually run by the legislative members. We have laws and upright officers to enforce them, but their hands are tied because of these politicians. Mangalore Church attack is one of the solid example.

    The author of this article was a child when Church attack took place and therefore she might have not included it in this article. All the best girl. Keep writing.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Aug 16 2017

    Good article.I would say a freedom to Indians is in a way of getting freedom from British was successful.when one really sees ,in these 72 years what this independence brought for women ,indian citizens today?Not much.How many illiterate women we have in india ?Does the govt take really effort to bring them forward or backward?Caste system,dowry,rapes ,harassing them wherever and whenever chance gets,low salary to women ,Men dominate them everywhere.Not even when she bears a girlchild is she not free.Either she will be killed ,or baby will be killed before it comes to the world.Only freedom to moral police,rapists,cow vigilants is are free to perform duty nowadays.How many children have to work instead of school visit,to help family ?However hope is still there,when corruption stops we too can proudly say,Bharat matha co jai.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Appreciate the effort.. but ade raaaga ade haadu

    It doesnot take grt effort to write run out of the mill articles cricisicing chaddy BD etc.. new jurnos must look beyond to call spade a spade.. there are enough rogues in the society that needs to be exposed.. it needs guts too...

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    The most recent honor killing and moral policing is this..i would like to see such mentions because these are brutal and shameful.

    - A pregnant Muslim woman was set ablaze by her family for allegedly marrying a Dalit man - About 15 people assaulted man at a mall alleging that he had brushed against a Muslim girl ?

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Richard, Bondel ,Dubai

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Well said sruthi sree. Its an eye opener to people around us. Wish you all the best in your future career.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash Koni, Kundapur, Muscat

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Very well written article Dear Sruthi Sree. Congratulations and on this holy occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami and 71st Independence day celebrations, I send you greetings from Muscat and wish you all the very best in your struggle to spread awareness through your writing skills.

    Very apt article in this current scenario. We are not here to judge whether we are independent or not. As I am posting my comments, I feel I am independent. When I am not dependent I am independent, as simple as that. I don't know why some people give different shades and colours for ones own existence.

    We are born free and will die free (not taking anything along). So long as we are living in this country (our mother land) respect the constitution that provides equal opportunity to each and everyone. Expectations depends on each individual; hence no sense lending ears to such narrow minded junks.

    Our forefathers got us the independence; lets respect their contribution and sacrifice and live in unity and peace. Long live our unity in diversity. Jay Hind.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Richard, Bondel ,Dubai

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Well said sruthi sree. Its an eye opener to people around us. Wish you all the best in your future career.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • xxxxxx, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Nice article

    DisAgree [3] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    We really don't have freedom. If anybody thinks that we have freedom.... then they don't know what freedom is.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh, Dubai

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    india got independence but hindus still fighting for freedom.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Dinesh,

    What do you mean by that??? Do you require more freedom to oppress minorities and people of lower caste???

    DisAgree [11] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh, Dubai

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    you are free to use minority card not lower cast..

    DisAgree [5] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • ODP, OMAN

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Very well written. Good job.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • RSRB, Kundapur/Singapur

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Sruthi Sree, Chennai

    Please write something about Kashmiri Pandits, if you think J&K is part of India and Kashmiri Pandits are also eligible for human rights.....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    Are we allowed to eat the food we want to eat ...

    DisAgree [8] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • D.Shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    is the freedom is killing living being for sake of our food ? we all do that ... So eating or butcher has given different political color for votes gains

    DisAgree [10] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • JAGDISH, mumbai

    Tue, Aug 15 2017

    eat wada pav

    DisAgree [7] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse


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