On Free Speech

I have a long awaited query and an unanswered question, still open for answers... "Is Democracy and too much Freedom a bane for India?"

Are we stumbling as a group of people living in a nation, which is formed by default on various societal, structural and systematic fault lines. The issues which come up each day in the national media are mostly trivial issues and provide comic relief to the majority of sane and discerning grey cells. 

It is painful to see the freedom of the country, achieved with so many pains and sacrifice of many generations, going down the drain on pointless and petty issues. Democracy seems to be fast becoming the 'Demonstration of the Crazy'. 

The situation even after so many decades of self-rule is failing to trigger a serious introspection in the administrative quarters those yield power and have the capability or responsibility to show a saner path. This is fuelling the support to strong views of state control, but who in the state in these situations can be trusted? or capable to do the 'tight-rope-walk' of allowing 'Free Expression' and ensuring free space available for 'Fair Expression', I wonder, the answer is none!

 It is true that discretionary power and discerning capability about the decisions made are best left to the individual. Provided even the strongest of the strong views are kept to oneself and not try to impose or enforce on others against their will. Certainly the state is not expected to play a role in these decisions and try to censor what to see, whom to love, whom to pray and what to read? But, these are all the side-effects of electoral politics, which people fail to understand and allow themselves to be exploited. The state too is run by the individuals elected resultant of this political system which likes to play to the gallery. These leaders of men are also found to be cynical to the core on more than one occasions. 

The state must concentrate on important issues and the issues of culture are better left for the time and society to decide. No one could stop invasion of our society by foreign religions, language, goods, culture, system, spread of consumerism, invasion of technology and even new festivities... Change can't be restricted with regressive and forceful impositions by a section of people, the majority of people will automatically stay away from something that is unpleasant or impractical in the current societal settings. 

The state shouldn't decide and mustn't allow any disruption to anything(legally allowed) that is done at the individual level, more so, when it is an expression of art.  

I also hoard a contrary opinion, that 'There can't be and shouldn't be anything that is absolutely free', "Lest it will become obsolete and will be abused obsessively".

The last para is open to discussion and debate in a different media...   

In response and responsible reply to Sanjay Chetia's article.

An Independent Nation under Seize!

An Independent Nation under Seize!

Independent and Seize mentality! don't get confused I am not referring to the Youngest Nation in the world, "South Sudan" which became Independent on July 9th 2001 but want to mention about the  present day "India" which became Independent 64 years back and celebrating it´s 65th Independence day today the 15th August of 2011.

We `The Independent Indians´ are very good at Scaring the Clown in all walks of our life. The days preceding the Independence Day are spent building-up the Tempo of the Nation in the form of preparations by Police, Armed Forces, Intelligence Agencies and Administration not in Nationalistic fervour but FEAR! yes fear and caution of many unwanted incidents of violence leading to creation of a Seize mentality among all. Think of all the negative effect it has on the minds of young children.

The peaceful days of celebrations are over! are they really over or we are becoming too over cautious as a society and nation? There would be reports of terrorist attacks at all places, important roads and places are closed for people, entry restricted to public places, people thoroughly searched for banned objects in the most expected manner, many travel plans amended or cancelled due to rescheduling, people avoiding markets & cinemas, even the security forces restrict their administrative movement thus reducing their footfalls in insurgent infested areas also, all this adds to a fearful peace and calm in the society rather than creating conducive atmosphere for joyous and pleasant Independence Day celebrations.

The crowds joining any flag hoisting ceremony be it at Delhi Red fort, schools, government offices, cantonments and even residents´welfare associations all across the country is either nominated, detailed and seldom enthusiastic & voluntary! People prefer to update a status message on social web sites and watch TV programmes than physically be part of the celebrations, we must do an introspection as to the reasons of this kind of disassociation to one of the important days of the country.

The reasons probably are.....I must mention at the cost of being cynical---------

• The life of a common man has not changed in all these years of Independence.  
• `Tryst with Destiny´ has remained just a zephyr.
• India is a developing country, or develoooooooooooooping  country till eternity. 
• 64 years are not less to change the course of things in a country. Countries ravaged in world wars, attacked with nuclear bombs, torn by historic differences and tsunamis are up and ahead of us in all terms.  
• The Fruits of Development & Open Economy are still to reach all levels of the society. 
• The policies of the state are yet to become INCLUSIVE in all true sense and sincerity.
• The governance does not recognise the need to have strong, well equipped, well paid, well integrated Armed forces which need to be put to use judiciously. National apathy in understanding the losses suffered by the service personnel and their family members.
• Existence of Big fat unresponsive Bureaucracy.
• Plan for extravagance of Nuclear weapons & Moon mission, when millions are still poor, illiterate and unemployed.
• Despots ruling under the garb of Democracy.
• Demonstrations and destruction both by ethical and petty causes.       
• Family dramas of first political family and Political dharmas of political parties.
• Insurgencies, statehood demands and external supports.
• Feudal societal system and VIP culture. 

Poor Common man still doesn't know why and what actual independence means.

  

True that we are Great Nation of Great People with undying spirit to move on with life, in the midst of Mythical Unity in Diversity!

Here we are celebrating the Independence Day to give an Independent Nation to the Children of Independence.....