What is Freedom?

NOTE:


All the things that I’m talking about is solely personal. Everyone has the right to disagree and hold their opinions. The following text is based on my experience of being prisoned for five hours on March 19, 2011, on the day of Holi.

Freedom, I now believe is not bowing down our heads just because people in power ask us to.

Freedom, I now believe is not to be squashed with 60 people in a cold damp room filled with fatigue.

Freedom, I believe is not to loo in a smelly toilet that doesn't have neither lock nor light with five other people.

Freedom, I believe isn’t corruption—when people are compelled to pay 30 rupees for a packet of noodle that otherwise costs fifteen.

Freedom, I believe isn’t about curtailing our right to speak and turning it into right to remain silent.

Freedom isn’t about letting others swear and humiliate others—regardless of committing a mistake.

Freedom isn’t about abusing power.

Freedom isn’t about dreaming for two stragiht nights of staying behind bars and standing with 60 other people on a cold cement floor filled with cold water only to wake up upright and find ourselves sleeping in our own bed—at our own home.

Freedom isn’t about fearing to buy a packet of buscuit to ease hunger—only becuase I didn’t have money to buy a bottle of water to quench my thirst.

Freedom is about seeing the bright sky, the burning sun, feeling the cool breeze and walking without fear—to our homes.

And finally, freedom, I believe is walking out of the brision and breathing fresh air...not just walking, but walking tall and smilling because we all are free. Freedom re realizing these very things and cherishing life, regardless of many ups and downs, and saying, with a smile—LIFE STILL IS BEAUTIFUL.