Independence Vs. Freedom

These thoughts flash upon my inward eye, on seeing the pictures displayed at OPI-Kochi Cafeteria, for the photography ‘Expression’ competition. What would your favorite Parrot do as soon as you open its cage and if you have not cut its wings? Before you blink, it would fly away. A picture, like that of Nemo, raised a question, would the fishes have thoughts like Nemo in ‘Finding Nemo’ (computer-animated American family film).



How would you feel if you are taken away from your parents or loved ones, and put alone in a new circumstances/environment? How do you feel when your loved one is not around you or is no more?



Doing what you like is freedom. To do what you like you need not necessarily be independence. It may not be always possible to do what you want if you are independent. You may have to depend on others to do what you like. It is said that the biggest human freedom is the choice between Hate and Forgiveness. Freedom is normally with respect to internal realization.



When we normally speak about independence, it is a relative term. Nobody can be completely independent, unless they make a captive economy for themselves. One has to depend on so many things, so many times. Independence is dependent on outside objects.



Used as synonymous often, there have been numerous debates, as to if they are same or not. Whether it is at the level of individual, family, corporate, or country, there is some difference between independence and freedom. In celibacy there is independence, but in marriage there is freedom.



One would prefer going to US or Dubai, than Saudi Arabia? Most individualistic society is USA according to a 1980 study, and a centre of attraction for many. It could obtain this distinction, because of the function of the reasoning minds, of the people there, which began since its independence, declaration of the legal separation from Great Britain, on 4th July, 1776. Atmosphere there have made individuals independent, strong, reliable, and confident. Above all, you find freedom there. There is one of the greatest symbols of freedom, the Statue of Liberty, also known affectionately as "Lady Liberty". She welcomes arriving immigrants to US



Independence (of a nation) means the nation is not subject to the government of another nation. Freedom of a nation means that its citizens are free to determine their own fates and live their own lives. A country may be independent and not free and vice versa. Whatever, Independence Day, is a day of great rejoice for any country.



More than half of the independent countries in the world are democratic today. We can see that as years roll by, more and more nations are willing to accept democracy as a form of Government. It began with New Zealand becoming the first country to give full voting right to its people way back in 1900. The map of democracy is constantly changing since then.



The salient feature of democracy, which makes it outshine other form of governance, are:

1. There could be real freedom to express our views or opinion.
2. People could choose or change rulers.



During 2004-07 we would have come across this about India:



Headed by a Sikh economist,
Presided by a Muslim scientist,
Directed by a Catholic Italy born lady,
With 82% Hindu population,
Proclaimed to be worlds largest democracy,
We live in a country with a rich & varied heritage,
Willing to accept everything and everyone.
It can happen only in India……….





61 years ago, we broke ourselves from the clutches of British rule, and have become independent. But are we free now? Can we be free from the clutches of inequality, communalism, corruption and the like?