Where is my freedom?

An Indian citizen asks that question almost every second. Or may be, his soul asks him. Sometimes he makes the voice of his soul heard out in the form of expression. Sometimes he stifles it within and keeps up a face saying I am free and I am fine. Because that's the only way it seems, to make peace with the life around you. Our "great" constitution is a big book with lots of rights for its citizenry. The right to live freely is there. The right to express opinion is there. The right to move freely is there. We have the right to life and personal liberty. These are all under the fundamental rights.

Yet, a rogue of this nation has the audacity to make utter ridicule of our constitutional right by letting his hoodlums beat up the Biharis in Maharashtra. The protectors of the constitution sit meekly and watch. Ofcourse they use their mouth loudly in condemning the act. But the taxi driver or the road side vendor who suffers the brunt asks: Where is my right to make livelihood? Where is my right to move freely ? Where is my right to liberty? Why do you mention these rights in the constitution when you cannot guarantee me any of these? Why do I have to fight so much for it?

Yet, a Telangana struggle happens and all the above rights seem to be completely non-existent. The life comes to a halt. Shops are shut down. Transport is shut down. Every Tom Dick and Harry issues threats at free will. Public property is damaged at free will. Move around at your own risk. And the ensurers of these fundamental rights seem to be completely helpless in making sure that come what may, these rights will never be sacrificed.

Yet, A famous personality passes away. And the whole city comes to a grinding halt. The so called fans suddenly are angry because the personality passed away. The shops are forcibly shut down. Schools and colleges are shut. Buses are pelted. You venture out at your own risk. And all our so called rights ensured by the constitution are tossed out of the window. And the ensurers of these fundamental rights seem to be completely helpless in making sure that come what may, these rights will never be sacrificed.

Yet, a little teenager dies after molestation and utter humiliation and it takes 19 years for the country to wake up? Suddenly our blood starts boiling only to become cold again. Suddenly the CBI former Joint Director says that he wanted to press the charges. Suddenly the National Commission for Women wants stringent charges. Suddenly, the ministry wants to meet the victim's family. Where were these enthusiasms 19 years back? Incompetence is the answer. And the voices now are just an attempt to cover up that incompetence. The incompetence of not able to protect the simple and powerless citizens.

And as I write this, an RTI activist has been mercilessly killed in Pune while he was on a morning walk. Why? Because he used RTI actively to unearth several land scams in Mumbai Pune region.

And we keep repeating like a parrot, "I am proud", "I am free" , "I am secure". Damn. Why are we so much habituated to accepting the rubbish around us that we finally make peace with by imagining the right to freedom, right to liberty, right to expression and several other so called rights whereas in fact these are just by accident. If you get it then great and if if not, then sorry.

And after a while cynicism takes the front seat and thats the final nail.

Someone asked god to give him the serenity to accept the things that he cannot change and the courage to change the things he can.

God give me the courage to not only change the things I can, but also the courage to change the things that I think I cannot.