The ban was lifted last night
India has always been a free country, there is more freedom here than anywhere else in the world, more freedom, perhaps too much freedom
That is our problem
Too much freedom.
This picture tells you the story. I always use this picture to show our living condition. The boat is barely a few inches above the surface of water. Tightly packed, one more person would sink the boat. It can't take any more. You have Hindus Muslims, Buddhists Sikhs Christians in there
There is hardly any elbow room,
but there's a world of room in their hearts. they live in harmony all the time
But sometimes things go wrong.
In such a fragile country we have to use our freedom with extreme caution.
How much freedom should be allowed ?
Our constitution guarentees all kinds of freedom
how are we using it ?
If two persons insult each other and start exchanging blows, the boat would sink
They all have the freedom to express themselves.
Slightest irresponsible act would damage the peaceful atmosphere, hundreds of innocent lives are lost as a result, in riots and communal and political clashes.
I don't blame the government for slapping the ban,
We are pretty reckless with our freedom
Blunt Knife
You have used both a visual and verbal metaphor to illustrate your opinion. Nicely done.l
ReplyDeleteyes i agree with Kate! I'm happy to hear the ban is lifted.
ReplyDeleteIndia is a fragile country Kate difficult to govern, chaotic but a very strong democracy, Indians have been most tolerant for thousands of years, it continues even today. Unfortunately misuse of freedom brings a great deal of tension.
ReplyDeleteyes it is a big relief Kathy. Thank you so much for your support and concern. We can't take our freedom for granted. We have to use it with utmost responsibility.
ReplyDeleteThis one grabs your heart. Thanks Rauf. Your eye is so powerful.
ReplyDeletewelldone,Rauf..
ReplyDeleteA pretty clear story with an apt pic!!
I am just trying to make a point Don.
ReplyDeleteYes Gangadhar, every individul counts. Now I have to be careful about what I write. I have to undrstand that I have the freedom of expression, but I can't afford to be reckless about it.
ReplyDeleterauf, its brilliant ... when the powercut happens and then comes back again ! ... thums up to india ! its easy to pull the plug but thoughtfull to put it back ...
ReplyDeleteYes Suresh, I suddenly realise the value of freedom only when it is taken away from me. Now I have to use it carefully.
ReplyDeleteHi rauf : here via 4d. I also didn't know of the ban and am glad it has been lifted. One of my most memorable experiences was some years ago when my husband and I visited your country.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Pi, Thanks for stepping in. Most things happen for a good reason. The government slapped a ban on blogging as some of us were misusing our freedom of speach to spread hatred. Since you've been here in India, you must have noticed how fragile the atmosphere is. For instance, Indira Gandhi was assasinated by some Sikh security guards, the entire Sikh community had to face the wrath. Same thing could have happened to the Muslim community after the Bombay train blasts as some Muslim extremists were responsible. The government immediately made sure that the bomb blasts don't result in communal riots. India is chaotic but a working democracy, where voices of the people are heard, unlike the west where much against the wishes of its citizens the countries go on waging wars invading other soverign nations.
ReplyDeleteThe ban on blogging was immediately lifted after some strong protests, though 40 thousand plus bloggers is not a great number for a country of 1.1 billion.
thank you once again for yout visit Pi
I am smiling Claudia, voices like yours made the difference, the ban was immediately lifted. I lost my freedom for a few days and felt depressed and suffocated. I realised the value of freedom only when I lost it for a brief period. Now I will be very careful in excercising my freedom of expression. Thank you so much for your support Claudia. The ban taught me a lesson.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're back!
ReplyDeleteOWEEE Hayden ! yes me back, did not go away actually I was very much here, depressed suffocated. I just could not do one little thing, blogging, something that came so late in my life, first time really and truly i was expressing myself. And that right was taken away from me. imagine my depression. This the largest working democracy in the world where too much freedom was bleeding the country. Sense prevailed in the end, my right was restored. Now I learnt a good lesson, hope rest of the citizen learn it too. I realised the value of my freedom. Have to use it very very carefully.
ReplyDeleteOne big hug to Jake, how's he doin ?
Rauf, you're fortunate to now be in a position to truly appreciate what you have. I am here in Ireland with 45 American students who constantly complain that they have to walk the hills of Blarney or Kinsale or Cobh, they'd rather be on the internet or mobile. They have "lost" their internet for 2 weeks and don't know how to appreciate the cultural exchange and beauty they are experiencing.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are able to access blogger again! Keep on blogging, good buddy!
ReplyDeletei read your last post a few days ago, Rauf. I was distraught! So distraught I was speechless...I didn't even leave a comment - most unlike me.
ReplyDeleteI am SO happy the ban has been lifted! I only hope to god that all countries could be freed from their chains.
But everyone has different views on freedom.
reckless with our freedom..oh we are! That is exactly why I refuse to do certain things, I really appreciate the freedom I have - wouldn't throw it away for the world. But it's all a gamble, really. We all end up risking our freedom.
Most important n what really counts?...Welcome back
ReplyDeleteI have mostly south Indian friends Ruth. I traveled with some of them a few years ago and they kept demanding south Indian food where ever they went, never tried the local delicacies. I eat what the locals eat. Never had any problems.
ReplyDeleteLost and found Tracy, Freedom is so precious, never reaslised until I lost it for a brief period.
ReplyDeleteLaila, please post pictures and experiences of your holiday.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you realise how precious our freedom is. Except for a few, most countries are free today. Hope they would be free one day, in their own way. West or the developed countries have their own style of freedom, which may not suit the rest. Some restrictions are needed in different situations.
Thank you Fourdinners
ReplyDeleterauf,
ReplyDeletekeep on speaking,
as the wind is keeping on blowing.
---dm----
But not so loud and not like Katarina Ufukhati. Yes I will speak but with caution.
ReplyDeleteI live sometimes, rauf, in the poorest section of my city, in the worst and most dangerous area. In there you know to be careful, to watch what you say, how you act, don't do the wrong thing and disturb the peace, things will come crashing down upon your head, the children will get hurt, the elderly will suffer, and what for, a few words, that which would make no difference if not said?
ReplyDeleteWhen peace is already being disturbed there is room to speak and act. When peace is had, and it is really working okay, one should be cautious out of respect. There are fine lines, and fine and subtle things one must know, outsiders don't know, don't understand, they can be no judge.
You do what is best, keep faith in the future and act by your best judgement, alert and awake every minute. Your posts and pics, your writing says far more than is on the surface. On your blog, I 'feel' the people and the way it is and the country, and I hope for them all same as for myself.
Thanks rauf.
In a country rich in natural resources, we have deaths due to starvation Jim. I wonder what freedom means to them. This clearly shows that we have wrong priorities. My survival has been an eternal struggle too.
ReplyDeleteJust a 2 second delay in expressing ourselves does not seem to matter much, but it matters a lot when we are angry. I am not a saint and I am not trying to become one. I have hurt people with my immediate reaction which I regret very much.
Misuse of freedom is a very interesting topic, Poms; glad you brought it up. But the funniest bit is, what is considered freedom to some, is nuisance to others. Say, playing loud music in one's house, which is an act of being free, yet disturbing the sleep of their neighbours, taking away THEIR freedom !! People need to think of things from others' perspectives; about how it feels to be on the receiving end (I have always done that, and now i feel it has made me hyper-sensitive to everything, which is not good), and probably, with a tiny hope, the world would be a better place *hugs*
ReplyDeleteWhat about freedom from want? Maybe it's not such a problem as long as people have enough to eat. Or are happy.
ReplyDeleteOWEEEE BOOEY ! Yea some are so insensitive that they don't care about the comfort of others. This happens a lot on the trains. Good point you raised here Booey, I completely forgot about it.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard this boo ?
'your freedom ends where my nose begins' ??
ummms and hugs
As long as we have the will to survive we will never be free from want Imemine.
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