As India gets ready to celebrate 67 years of
freedom, the media is agog, speculating and predicting, what the PM, who
came to power with the promise of 'good days', would share with the
Nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Over tea this morning, I pondered over what this 'freedom', that is so invaluable, has meant to me - as a small child it meant going to school, hoisting the flag, singing the National Anthem and dispersing after we were given a chocolate to celebrate the occasion; as I grew up it meant listening to 'my' kind of music, being able to go to the movies, and read the books I wanted; into adulthood, it meant being out late, wearing what I wanted to and falling in love with who I wanted to!
Now, as I have experienced all that, my view and understanding of 'freedom' is more mature - a safe environment for every young lady to be who she wants to, go where she wants to, do what she wants to; a clean environment with water, education and food for all; a loving atmosphere for our children to grow in happiness not in fear - at homes, schools, the roads, on a train, bus or car; where women are respected and the girl child, much wanted; where there is equal opportunity for every citizen of the country - no bias or favouritism; where merit is the only qualification; where the bar is raised and we strive to make ourselves better...
'Where the Mind is Without Fear', Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore
Over tea this morning, I pondered over what this 'freedom', that is so invaluable, has meant to me - as a small child it meant going to school, hoisting the flag, singing the National Anthem and dispersing after we were given a chocolate to celebrate the occasion; as I grew up it meant listening to 'my' kind of music, being able to go to the movies, and read the books I wanted; into adulthood, it meant being out late, wearing what I wanted to and falling in love with who I wanted to!
Now, as I have experienced all that, my view and understanding of 'freedom' is more mature - a safe environment for every young lady to be who she wants to, go where she wants to, do what she wants to; a clean environment with water, education and food for all; a loving atmosphere for our children to grow in happiness not in fear - at homes, schools, the roads, on a train, bus or car; where women are respected and the girl child, much wanted; where there is equal opportunity for every citizen of the country - no bias or favouritism; where merit is the only qualification; where the bar is raised and we strive to make ourselves better...
'Where the Mind is Without Fear', Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore
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