Are we really free in India??

Hey Amrita, your are completely wrong, women are not in dark nowadays. Bharatiya naree are every where in present era. I agree that they are not ahead to men but not behind too. What is reason to think women are in dark till days...

Ofcourse... If not 100%, It has improved over the last 50 years and will continue to improve over the years to come. Nothing can be changed over night. It all requires some patience and ability to take things in positive , way else there is no end to this debate..

Well, we are. And the problem with us is, we are totally disconnected with our independence movement beyond hoisting the tri-colour, having a holiday or just reading about it. Independence is all about moving around freely albeit between 8am and 8pm, joining whichever school / college you like, eating chat on the middle of a busy highway, yelling profanities at the auto wallah, spitting pan or tobacco, teaching computers and managing the finances of the white skin, drubbing them at the gentlemans game on a good day.... i could go on.

Now, just think if all this was possible under the occupation of foreign forces. No way ! Its a case of how well you utilise what you have got. But we indians have made it a habit of complaining a lot and doing nothing about it. Yes, i do agree - honour killings, cheating politicians, rape, murder, dacoity, riots, bandhs ... are all there. But name one place in the world where these are not there.  Variety is the spice of life and one has to make good with whatever one has. Only then will we realise the true meaning of independence.

Amrita ji,

Only we are free in our country 

 my slogan

KABHI BHI, KAHIN BHI, KUCH BHI MERI JAAN,

YAHI TO HAI MERA BHARAT MAHAAN

We are free in India.As Amrita has highlighted there are various unpleasant things going on all over the country and there is an upward trend in this unproductive activities indulged mostly by a handful of people.Sad thing is people concerned are taking their own sweet time to punish the guilty or to take preventive action for various reasons.Barring the inordinate delay in taking corrective action we are very much free in India. We should put an immediate end to all these things pulling  us down.

Freedom as a concept is present as constraints are inherent and unshackling oneself from the constraints lead to freedom. However, this is bound by various laws, culture, current environment and political, moral and economical situation of the nation.

This situation is similar in all the countries and the only differentiation being the extent of freedom. We need to enact stronger laws and policies and ensure the enforcement of these regulations so that the freedom in the country improves to the level of freedom as perceived by members in other countries....

Thanks for the referral, Natteraja.....

I do support Amrita on this. I generally donot participate in Independece Day celebration, because that day reminds me of the sacrifices made and of their unfullfilled dreams. On this forum I want to salute them and to beg pardon for not fulfilling their dreams, the work which they souldered to us. Who says we are free? We are still governed by British Ghosts!!! The faces have changed but the situation is even worse. Some people are still looting our nation, may be they are still working for our invaders. Butwhere is the solution? We are so engrossed in our lives that wehave forgotten about our mothr land. The discussion will not change our fate, for that dedicted action is needed.

I am in total agreement with you Natteraja on your point of view. I think the debate should read as fate of ladies in India today. The fate has nothing to do with Freedom.

Yes there should be stringent law enforcement against misdeeds with ladies which is not happening and this must happen and lets become the change factor through toostep and other means to highlight the issue so that proper actions be initiated by Govt. of India.

Although agreeing with Amrita's views and concerns I am voting against the motion. Because taht is optimistic.

But at the same time I would say that raising such self criticising questions is not pessimism.

Tnx for the ref Mr.Natteraja. You’ve explained the essence of being free and freedom well.

Some time back, had written a write-up on the actual meaning of freedom and it’s interpretations in current India on Too-step.

Dear friends, the question is are we free in India, the answer is we are all free in India. But there are certain unwanted things do exist in our country as explained by the friends from the other side. However I would like to ask, WHICH COUNTRY IS FREE FROM THE FOLLOWING ?

bribery, corruption, murder, division in caste & religion, terrorism, rapping, involvement of politics & political influence in all way of life,......

This is everywhere.......

Since India is having threat from militants, we need security arrangements in and around red-fort during independence day and this is a precautionary measures only which is vital. Today, all world leaders, and heads of states need protection, the MPs and ministers come under security cover of Z category in India.

The above problems, which are social evils,  are related to the social systems and law breakers. Despite, India is having several states with different languages, castes, and religion WE ALL LIVE TOGETHER.  This is UNITY AMONG DIVERSITY. 

so friends, plus & minus will be always there. it is our duty to set right things and we need certain reforms to rectify/eradicate the unwanted social evils. we all are part and parcel of our society. 

Hence it can not be construed as we are not free. EVERY CITIZEN OF INDIA IS FREE HERE. Of course, the standard of education, financial standing, and the employment problems have the bearings on them. That's all.  

Dear supporters of "No",

I generally refrain from making a second explanation statement but try to ensure that I explicitly put my thoughts across the forum in the first shot. I think its appropriate now to put an extension to my first proposition.

I have to borrow two terminology used in previous two general election from Mr Advani. "Swaraj" (Self governance) and “Suraj"(Good governance) to explain further.

My initial emphasis is on “Swaraj”; No matter how badly a nation looks it still inherits the right to rule itself. “Self rule” will definitely lead to “Good governance” in sometime but that doesn’t warrant the necessity to belittle the celebration and importance of “Swaraj”.A 1000 yr onslaught of foreign powers and alien rule had demolished the very psyche of Indian race. Independence has given us the new lease to revive our golden days of ancient civilization.

 Do you really think with all the present economic resource of India being impartially distributed and put to good use under ideal circumstance(Corruption, red tapism free) can feed the Hungry for ever, Tackle the violence on permanent basis, Eradicate social difference, provide education to all and other basic amenities? The answer is No.

 The “Drain of wealth theory” suggests 1 trillion USD equivalent economic resource  being looted from India by European traders from 1600 AD onwards which roughly puts the value to 10,000 trillion USD in present day as compared with US economy  of 14,600 trillion USD today. Imagine what we have lost and have to double our efforts regain it. No other country in the world has undergone our situation, got independence but stuck with “Principle of democracy” so successfully and achieved much more than anyone had done it in their time.

All so called developed nations of the world which follow democracy today had none during industrial revolution or when citizens were harassed to work 18 hrs/day or when they had no basic rights, no universal franchise or no humanitarian aids during natural crisis; all just to give the capitalist (who also held political power) an edge and achieve economic monopoly over commerce.

 The same can’t be done in India, we are free here. We have rights. We have started the new lease of “Swaraj” with democracy. The ultimate purpose of getting sovereignty and nationhood is to achieve greater good for all its citizens. The degrees of freedom which a citizen gets in “Swaraj” are far higher than an alien rule.

 Now is the journey of “Swaraj” to its final destination and it being the key to good governance has to be protected from all possible dangers including physical, propagandist and intellectual threats.

Thus “Swaraj” is inevitably the only step to reach an ideal state.

Good governance, “Suraj” can be achieved with economic prosperity of one and all with lone “Swaraj” and nothing else.

so true Harish - we are victims of our own doings & double standards! we allow these things to happen to us - have not the politicians & industrialists risen from our ranks? we empowered them to corrupt for our own selfish interests!

we need to rise from the paradox's we ourselves created & unite to spearhead a common purpose/ front - something we have not ever been able to do

lets give that a thought & act on it

It is but natural that the cynicism 

we experience around tend to make

all of us somewhat paranoic in our attitude.

May be, the younger generation is getting

affected a little more as they enjoy freedom by

being born into a free country; and anything got

free has lesser value in the hands of the holder.

I completely agree with your views expressed Mr. Nitin Ji.

Mr. Sugatha has also narrated well. Here we are talking about freedom and every citizen of India has freedom to speak, write, and do good things & deeds. This world is surrounded by good and bad and what is good for one, he is doing. The results will be based on the good & bad things. One will get good things, if he does good, and one will get bad things, if he does bad. This is the law of nature. The transformation is based on the input of negative & positive actions. That's all. The coin has two sides. 

I think Amrita is talking largely about freedom of women. Independence day is for the freedom of the land. Sugatha talks about it. To people like Amrita, I can only give the example of Kashmir. Do you bother when you hear that people there still think that they are fighting for freedom. That India is ruling Kashmir. Can anyone tell them that we are still celebrating our independence in India? That we are not Britishers to them. That we don't take their meal or cloth to feed down south. That we are democratic nation, ruled by people, for the people. Thats freedom which they don't like sharing with us. Amrita, your point is like those people in kashmir. You and they are only talking justice. We also seek justice from Freedom in mainland. Freedom had promised it 63 years ago. For this generation and the new to remember this promise, we celebrate the Freedom. Join hands with all our fellow Indians to celebrate it, instead of undoing the sacrifice of our forefathers.

Amrita... there is so many things depends on your personal thinking, perception and habits.... some people only chat but do not try anything and they feel the freedom is limited to voicing only....        Free voicing its a great tool and can be used a s a weapon if we know the proper meaning of the free voice. If yo are not getting a chance to utilize this means you are not aware the power of free voicing or you do not have courage to do so.... its your personal problem that you are not capable to hold this.... for your information... I am not asking for fellows... I do have so many people in my circle at least one thousand who are seriously involved in social reforms... and I proud that I am one of them... we all are professional well settled not old aged.... all people are like me say around 40 aged... having kids and family with parents... but after occupying with so many things... they are digging out the opportunities for social work.... person has to work hard than only results can come out.... and particularly do not expect results in a day working..... related to women rights... we have changed a lot therefore you are here and people are listening.... just let me know which system is free from bugs... you people are happy to see the surfacial things only go to depth... your energy is important for us and please try to utilize in a right direction... my nation needs lot many young people like you,, please do something to comeout from such situation you feel wrong....Nation and coming generation will proud on you... please work like a stone of a foundation and give strong build to nation... do something for society..... whenever I meet the students always appeal to them for doing at least one hour in a month for the education of poor kids.... education is the only solution will give us a right direction....I can appeal only to you.... best wishes

very well said Sugatha - couldnt agree with you more

Many of us dont know the real meaning of independence, because we are enjoying the fruits of painful struggle of our forefathers.  Its a vague term for us.  If the machinery fails to protect its people, it has nothing to do with the independence. 

Correct

Amrita,

I still feel "Yes we are free" in a larger context.

Being it negative or positive, we are free.

The independence of a country & independence of people are two different things & shouldnt be tied together.

Country is free, so the people, however freedom of a person vary in person's own perspective.

Few people think that they are free to do any thing, be it honour killing, harassment, breaching privacy or supressing the poor.

The misery added when QANOON , law enforcement agencies take their own FREE decision to remain in silent mode.

It is more in our country, however, our words are louder than our action & we see a mere improvement if compare to any relevant incident of past.

We are free but our minds are not.

At least, the majority.

We have all the freedom to act and come up in INDIA,extremely girls are exceptionally leading front in the recent decades and here is an example dat amiya and amrita participating in this kind of debate..Freedom is always there and it is in thier individual hands to take them upto Kalpana Chawla or a day dreamer.

Ok..Now here is the question to you?..Which country have more freedom in your view?..Simply blamming the systems and securities won give you the feel of freedom..

we enjoy umpteen freedom.thats why kashmir as it is now,, a guru is not hanged,,kasib too, sha of gujarat is charged with murder, m singh is PM,sonia is president,corruption is rampant,nepal king is ousted,kalmadi is continuing and what not?.....