Free! Are We?

6o years of being free. That’s what we celebrated yesterday. But are we really free? Should we be going so gung-ho about our freedom? Yes, today we are a free country taking giant strides in the world economy. There is no power ruling us. Indian industries are creating waves around the world. We as people can move around anywhere we want. But are we as people really free? Do we as people have all the freedom in the world? Do we as people have the basic rights, which the word freedom grants- freedom of speech and freedom of expression?
If we call ourselves a free country, a person should have the freedom to expression his/her opinion. It could concern any issue. Every person can have his/her take on things in life. After all he/she is living in a free country! And along with that others should have the tolerance level to take this opinion in the right spirit. So, why is it that we always witness protest marches and vandalism following a book release or film release, which reflects our culture, religion and tradition in a different light? Why do we have to resort to violence every time a person expresses his/her opinion concerning a particular issue? We as a country are taking the right steps in the right direction when it comes to business and commerce. But unless and until free our minds from the shackles of religion and culture, all these steps will be of no use. Till we exercise the basic rights that freedom guarantees, calling ourselves a free and democratic country would be a farce.