“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?”

– Mahatma Gandhi 

15th August is just around the corner and the air is filled with reminisces, memories and pride. Peeps are sure gearing up for Independence Day celebrations, planning the day (a few for a holiday!) and waiting to post on social media with great captions, of course. Instagram Explore will be filled with patriotic posts, campaigns, and tributes. Google will change the doodle for the day and the whole social media will be painted in saffron, white and green. 

Independence Day has become like a routine. For one day we go back to our freedom struggle, feel proud how we chased the colonial power out of the country. Students will celebrate in schools, listen to the Independence Day speech, get candies in return and come home early.

Do we make them understand the importance of this day rather letting them follow the routine?

This day goes as it comes, every year. Sure, we’ll remember the freedom fighters and pay tribute to their immense sacrifice for the freedom of their motherland. But just remembering them on 15th August, every year is the real tribute? 

We discuss how the British used the diversity of our country against us. Divide and rule was their policy. We judge the kings of the princely states on how misdirected they were in terms of unity and why they did not stand in unison. But how is the situation different now? Point to ponder!

The existence of different cultures and languages is one of the most beautiful features of our country. The vibrant colours of different cultures make India as a whole. But still, we continue to diversify the diversity more and more as the years pass by. 

They say that change is the end result of all the learning. Then, what have we learned from our independence struggle? 

Freedom is the most valuable thing in life, a basic and foremost human right. Generations are moving past the freedom struggle and as usual, the history lessons fall flat. History is one of the important subjects but most likely ends up being boring for the students. It’s not their fault. It’s the education system and its monochrome pattern. On top of that, the curriculum is such that history is not conveyed in the right manner. Only the famous historical events are taught and in the end, children don’t feel the pain, anguish and the destruction of self-esteem faced by the people who lived enslaved.

 

Furthermore, freedom is taken for granted. The society doesn’t value the freedom we have got after 200 years of struggle when some section or the other is still suppressed by the superior. 

Ever imagine a world without freedom?

Maybe take a minute to imagine how your daily routine would be like?

I am sure it will send chills. (I am feeling it!) Freedom means more than doing whatever you want to do.  The definition of freedom lies in the harmony of living together in the society of diverse cultures with respect towards others. Freedom is to pursue happiness without fading the smile of others. 

Let’s look at some examples of how we do not respect the freedom of others in our day to day life:

For instance, children tend to define freedom as the time when they are free from any rules and restrictions. For example, a teenager would define freedom when he or she is allowed to stay at home alone without any supervision. Or consider the case when a child becomes all rebellious when parents try to imbibe some discipline in the house. Children take such regulations as a blow to their freedom and hence retaliate. That’s a wrong notion of freedom. When such a situation occurs, parents should help them understand the importance of discipline and the true meaning of freedom. On the other hand, parents sometimes directly or indirectly force the child to take up a career he or she is not even slightly interested in. This is how freedom of choice and freedom of speech is hampered. 

We don’t think about freedom when it comes to family. But we fail to understand that the definition of everything that forms our societal behaviour starts from home. Sadly, we do revoke the freedom of others easily in our day to day lives without even realizing it!

All we need to recognize the fact that the right to freedom is something that defines living. Rather a fundamental of life.

How can we bring about a change?

We should try to understand the true meaning of the right to freedom and spread awareness of the same. Fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, freedom of choice, economic freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of association are not the words just to mug up in schools eventually to score great in the theory of life (just to lose in the practical). Students should be encouraged to understand their subject more than just cramming and filling up the supplements in exams. We should teach the students to respect the freedom in others and that’s how we will be able to retain our freedom and dignity always. That’s the tribute we can give!

“The function of freedom is to free someone else”

– Toni Morrison 

Zedua salutes all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for our country. Let’s pledge this year that we teach our future generation the real meaning of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it.

Happy Independence Day!

Also Read, Discoveries of India – Let’s have a look!

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