Happy In-dependence Day

Think of the world, think of everyone who exists, the aims we have, our morals, beliefs, codes, what we do, what we don't do. Think of what happens when we do something 'wrong', when we commit a crime, when we are punished by law. For most criminals, the punishment is Jail.

What is it about Jail that makes it the ultimate punishment, what about it is so scary! Confinement to one space, a routine you are forced to follow, the fear of violence from fellow-inmates and administrators, specific rights controlled - such as the freedom of mobility, the freedom of mingling, freedom of having sex, freedom to choice of food, choice of clothes, freedom to do what you wish, when you wish, how you wish and so on. Jail is supposed to be a punishment and attempts are made to reform you so that you can get back to life a changed human being!

Now think of life when you're born a woman. Can you go where you wish, when you wish? Can you wear what you want? Can you do what you want? Can you have sex with or love whom you want? Are you under no threat to your dignity or life? Is that not a jail? What are you being punished for? What crime did you commit? Are you truly free?

Think of when you are a persecuted minority. Can you go where you want? Can you eat what you want? Can you believe in what you want? Can you wear what you want? Do you have no threat to your life? Is that not a jail? Are you truly free?

Think of religion. Can you believe what you want? Can you do what you want? Can you not do what you don't want? Do you have the freedom to think for yourself? To have your own beliefs? Is that not a jail? Are you truly free?

Think of something more general, more 'mainstream', more widely applicable. Think of most jobs out there, the kind you don't really want to do, but do. Can you do what you want? Can you believe what you want? Can you say what you want? Is that not also a jail? Are you truly free?

Think of addiction to technology, think of the pressures to have a certain body type, think of money and the issues it entails, think of addictions, think...

Perhaps the most acceptable Jail out of all of the above is the actual Jail itself! You know what to expect. You are under no illusion of having a choice! There is a physical space where you know that once inside, you are confined and controlled! You are punished because you violated relatively the most widely accepted criteria - The Constitution of India and not a set of artificial rules specific to a gender or religion or belief system. And although there may be many violations of rules within jails too, there is at least a system where you know for sure - what is wrong and what is right!

Freedom ought not to be a relative concept, it should be absolute. When it is absolute, it shall remain unattainable but it is perhaps the most worthy pursuit. Freedom is not just from a space or a foreign ruler, freedom is in the mind!

Happy Independence Day!