What does Freedom Mean to You?

What does being free mean to you? Does it mean the right to express yourself freely and frankly? Does it mean the freedom to be yourself, to live on your terms and to hold your beliefs regardless of other opinions?

What does being free mean to you? Does it mean the right to express yourself freely and frankly? Does it mean the freedom to be yourself, to live on your terms and to hold your beliefs regardless of other opinions?

What if this right to freedom of expression and speech, the right to live a life of dignity were taken away?

Would you remain quiet if …

1. Your money was not in your control and banks were to charge you for every transaction, levy whimsical penalties?

2. If restaurants were to fleece you?

3. If your green cover were tampered with and replaced by concrete in the name of development?

4. If a saffron bearing yogi were to unleash terror and divisiveness in the name of religion?

5. If your history books were rewritten in ways that make your past a sham?

6. If people in power were to remain unaccountable?

7. If someone were to tell you what you can or cannot eat?

8. If you were to be fed propaganda instead of news?

Is it ok to pretend that you are unaware of the noose of control being tightened gradually around you? Is it ok to choose to advocate or to be blind to the annihilation of people because they don’t fit your idea of evolution?

Is it ok for all argument to be choked out of you till you fall in line?

Is it ok for your children to live in a climate of fear and repression?

Because, once you have been silenced, there will be no coming back. Your impulse to fight back would be destroyed. Your right to question would be considered laughable and very soon you won’t know the difference between being free and being a conscientious tax paying citizen number.

A. Puppet. On. A. String.

It will be too late.

Yours, if you want me
Your Right to Freedom

Dear Builderji,

A big pranaam to you. I’m Krishna Apartments and I’m 6 years old. I am 6 floors in height. 18 apartments in all. No swimming pool. No squash courts. No annexe for parties and celebrations. No gym. Just a small, simple and peaceful building society with all apartments occupied and a view of the large open ground. My occupants are good, law-abiding citizens who bought my flats with their hard-earned money. They enjoyed 5 years of peaceful co-existence. But that’s all in the past.

Now, i have a new neighbour. Tall, grand, fancy with two storeys of car parking, two squash courts, an entertainment centre, a well equipped gym, a beautiful foyer with security cams and finger recognition software for members. They even have a cafeteria. Do i sound envious? Maybe a little but more than envious I’m feeling stifled, claustrophobic and unhappy. My inhabitants have all been taken by surprise by your 18 floor monstrosity because today 6 of the 18 families have no sunlight in their homes. Their windows look out at the building wall of your new Hamilton Parade, whatever that means!

I am now surviving under a big, black cloud. Everyone who made a home in me is today looking to abandon me. The family living in flat 102 made a distress sale and left in a hurry because their flat had become too dingy and damp and their daughter’s asthma resurfaced.

I’m writing to you to ask … what did you think when you spotted this plot of land and the government gave you permission to go ahead with your mammoth project? Did you even notice this small 6 storey building that you were about to eclipse with your grand design? Did you stop to consider the families that live here? What this would mean to them or to their daily existence? Who do these people turn to when their homes have just becomes dark, airless boxes? There is no insurance claim available because this cannot be termed a natural disaster or a force majeure. Who do they appeal to? Where do they go? What is their future? Why does no one give a crap?

Who will help?

sincerely,
Krishna Apartments,
crumbling in spirit and yet hoping for a miracle