THE FREEDOM ISSUE

Living far from the homeland, Independence Day is a special occasion for us all to mark our Indian identities.

We celebrate our democracy and look at how far India has come since 1947. We sing our national anthem, salute the Tricolour and pay tribute to the personalities who fought for the freedom of our future generations.

Freedom. When we talk of this on Independence Day, it brings to mind the British Raj and its atrocities, the long-fought campaign for political independence, and the sacrifices of our freedom fighters.

This issue, however, we ask our readers to think beyond the usual and tell us what the word ‘freedom’ means to them in a more personal sense, and how it reflects the way they live their own lives in contemporary times. Responses come from a cross-section of the Indian community in Sydney and Melbourne. Opinions range from escaping societal expectations, being able to worship the god they want, to freedom of sexual choice, and having the liberty to make mistakes and learn from them.

Some of these thoughts might mirror your own life, others might be food for thought. Read through, and tell us what freedom might mean to you.

Rajni Anand Luthra

Liberty at Box Head

It was high tide and I knew I’d find them, spines suturing the sea, dolphins duck-diving then surfing the waves in a parallel formation.

How is it we become so snared in our lives?

Time swallows the insults, the barbs we digest, retract and scar. Yet the same scarp enters me with its eroded beauty, its headland fingering the Pacific, noisy today as a cheerful road.

I cannot match the rapid eye of swallows.

Mannequin finches spy me from their perch and know my game. I’m brushed by banksias, their waxy leaves sobering my thoughts.

Down by the rocks, the foam’s calligraphy sparkles in the sun. Spirited waves grant me tolerance. I cross the green pools, the cunjevoi that fishermen waste. I think of those seagulls in salmon rich waters. One may lose a leg through sheer play—the price of liberty.

Michelle Cahill

Poet and writer

Freedom for me is about my mind being empty of excessive desires, worries, thoughts, even memories. It can happen through writing or meditating; it is dreaming like the wind.

There is a lot of garbled noise in our society –of gender stereotypes, cultural diktats, and our own conditioning and expectations. For me, freedom means that I’ve managed to distil that noise and find a voice that’s mine alone, unique and clear.

To have the right to make my decisions is my idea of freedom. It’s what makes me independent and self-sufficient. But on a lighter note, freedom means my right to annoy my siblings… and nap whenever I want!

Sarneet Kalsi

Year 8 student

Freedom is when wings are free to discover the limitless sky.

SHASHI KOCHHAR Social advocate

To me, freedom is to break through our emotional barriers and elevate ourselves to a place where we practise love for all and feel the pain of others more than our own.

Freedom is achieving that unique state of mindfulness where we can truly accept and celebrate diverse people and their perspectives. It’s the panacea for all thought maladies. Are we there yet?

PREETI THADANI Senior advocate

Freedom, simply put, is our birthright. For me, freedom means being able to choose my life’s paths and make my decisions without societal, government or institutional pressures. But it also means accepting others for who they are and what they say. You have true freedom when you are totally secure within yourself and your surroundings.

ANEETA MENON Learning and development specialist

To me, freedom is the right for all people (and ideally animals!) to live free of the systemic disadvantages that oppress them. And, yes, it’s in progress still but I would say humankind’s greatest achievement to date is the ability to have developed, prioritised and, in many social structures, institutionalised, compassion. From there, freedom will flow naturally.

VIKRAM (TEDDY)

MEHTA

Entrepreneur

Freedom means more than just living in an independent country.

Am I living life on my own terms? Can I say and do what I want?

If the answer to these questions is yes, only then can I call it freedom.

Freedom to me means being able to learn from the past. It isn’t necessarily about being independent. Since I was 10, my parents have given me the liberty to learn for myself, even if it means failing now and then.

My favourite words on freedom come from Chloe Frayne. I want to be a field of wildflowers; constantly claiming new ground. And what is this of freedom, How does this taste like clean air?

I’ve learnt that fear can mar freedom. But belief in yourself and your abilities can transform fear into freedom – how great is that?

Can you really be free if you’re not allowed to choose who you love?

Some societies still label same-sex relationships as a crime. Unless this cruel label is done away with, I won’t be able to celebrate my so-called freedom.

Freedom to me is to think, speak, write, dress, learn, sleep, dream, dance, laugh, sing, play, move or love without fear or anxiety. Being free is being able to choose without being afraid.

MAINA GORDON Solicitor

We may be living in a “developed” and “modern” society, but there are many of us who still lack freedom in its most basic sense –the choice to go where they want, to marry who they want, or even express themselves without fear. If we have the liberty to make these choices without fear, we are truly free.

CHANNA Clinical coder

Although the term “freedom” is laced with traumatic memories of India’s Partition for me, it also signifies the strength to follow your dreams. It’s freedom that empowers you to be fearless in speech, thought and action.

Anil Bhatia

Shipping magnate

Freedom to me means the ability to live my life to its full potential, to reach my potential and be the architect of a life without barriers. To live with dignity and in harmony with the environment, the community and foster mutual love and respect for all those I interact with.

Being truly free means not being forced into anything. It means that I can be my true self and do what I want, no matter which stage of life I’m in. And to never forget that those around me deserve the same.

SMITA SHAH

Doctor and academic

Being able to think, speak, wear, eat what I want, for example. Or work, which helps me make a difference in equity. That’s what freedom means to me.

SANJIV DUBEY Teacher and sports coach

We’ll never understand the meaning of freedom unless we can comprehend the struggle or sacrifices our ancestors made for us to be free. To me, being free, first and foremost means to appreciate that.

Being free, to me, is to be able to love anyone and worship any god or being you choose. You can’t have freedom in a world that restricts love and religion or imposes biases based on caste, gender and economical differences.

To me, freedom means having autonomy over my own choices, my actions and my future, irrespective of my ethnicity or gender.

In a world where speaking your mind can have terrible consequences, to me, freedom means just being able to think and speak freely. We’re born to be free spirits, not to be chained. Mind you, speaking your mind doesn’t mean that you’re free to hurt others.

Freedom to me is living life unrestricted and fearlessly, even if it involves breaking rules now and then. Anything less is tantamount to slavery.

Freedom is the right to lead my life as I choose without hurting others and with responsibility for my actions. To live by my value system, beliefs, intellect and emotions. To live a life that shows empathy and compassion. To speak up against evils such as inequality, prejudice and discrimination.

LAMBA Entrepreneur

Freedom is being able to live in a truly multicultural society where we have the liberty to be ourselves. But it’s a freedom that we must earn, and remember that it comes with great responsibility.

Freedom is a blessing that allows us to respect and be respected for our civilised thoughts and collective human values without being judged on the basis of colour, gender, religion and political affiliation.

A life without inhibitions or fear is free. If I can live for happiness, fulfilment and growth without fear, I am truly liberated. At the same time, I’m conscious of the fact that being free comes with a responsibility to respect others around me.

ANAND (ANDY)

CHAUHAN

Property sales consultant

Freedom to me, is to be myself, live the way I like to, without the fear of prejudice or being judged.

Freedom to me is the right for individuals to live life on their own terms as long as their actions don’t negatively impact others.

PREETI JABBAL Journalist

Freedom to me is to try things, make mistakes, stumble, rise again, keep learning and keep growing. Freedom is the choice to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. It is to grow through what we go through.