Are We Really Free?

Independence Day….It has been 69 years since we got our “Freedom”, but I always question the freedom that we have at the moment. We abuse it. We don’t value it. The people who were oppressed are the ones who needed it. They wanted freedom for us. Their future, their pride, for us they gave their lives. Families lost loved ones. Children lost their parents, abandoned for what?

Today we live in a time where freedom is mistaken and taken for granted. We don’t hold our country dear. We break rules, yes we do question some and revise them but we still are roped. Why is it that you need to be told to respect women? Why is it that you need guidelines to keep your country, your communities and your households clean? Why is it that you think rage, rape, crime, murder etc. are ok and your right? Who gave you the right to take the life of another? How is it ok? Do you need rules to help someone who is in danger? Do you need to be told to stand up for each other? Do you need to be told to keep your children safe and not take advantage of them? We are not really free. We are caged by our emotions, by our limited thought process, by our wrong moral values, by material things.

We live in a country where we don’t have a say. Our governance is poor. They battle out on trivial issues, their decisions are wrong. Bureaucrats and politicians make empty promises. There is no concept of selflessness. People abuse the power that they have and for what. Selfishness is a trait of our government. There are innumerable scandals. The voices who speak are muffled or shut down. If this is what we celebrate every year, I question it and will question it. People like our politicians distribute alcohol for votes; there are criminals who are put in charge to rule us. Cases that are not registered, victims who are not provided justice. Being a Libra (moon sign), I have this inherent trait for balance. I have to some extent lost faith in the justice system. A friend’s sister is married to a cop and she underwent domestic violence. A cop, who is an alcoholic, had numerous affairs, did that. I still get goosebumps when I remember seeing her bruised pictures. Who protects us from such people because they are the system. Maybe I am generalizing here but this happens. There are police men who do help you. There are many who laid their lives to protect us. One bad seed and that's how the image is tainted. But that was the moment I released that you cannot expect people to protect you. You protect yourself unless by the grace of God, some blessed soul may seek you out and help you.

Where I work, I see some get harassed – mentally and sexually. I see people getting jobs because they either bribed or got a minister or a secretary to help them or someone they are related to is there. Papers are leaked, they are manipulated. RTIs keep pouring in and if you do good work, you either become a dog or your character is assassinated. I see people who don’t work knowing that they have a secure job. All they do is sit in the office the entire day without doing an ounce of work. How is it ok to lick ass and climb to the top. How is mediocrity ok?

Why is our country is digressing day by day? Why do we have to launch national programs just to ensure that girls atleast have the basic right to be born? Why do we need schemes to make sure that our children don’t die because they don’t have anything to eat wherein at the other end parents splurge money on luxuries? The world is not fair and every once in a while I feel like changing it. But then again what will one voice do. The rest adjust, the rest follow suit, what can I do but my bit?  So I help out when I can. I blatantly tell people off when they do wrong. I know that pisses people off but hey that’s me. I try to do as much charity as I can ( even though I need some at times), I try. That's my vow to my country. That I will try!

Even though there is everything wrong that can be with the system, we crib about it every day but on Independence Day I become a little (ish) patriotic. For those men and women who laid their lives for me today to voice this thought. For those men and women who want to truly help others. For those who still fight for us. For those who see the injustice, without caring for their own life, still protect. For those who value death and the sacrifices made. For those who raise their voice without any agenda – political or otherwise. Maybe they are those same people reincarnated because they love their country. Them I salute. Them I respect. My patriotism is for them.

Jai Hind!