How free are we? (Anish Esteves) Most of India celebrated our 74th year of Independence under lock-down. Are our minds locked to the ideals that were once propounded by the founding fathers of the nation as they sough to etch, carve and glue together the most diverse nation on Earth?
For a nation founded on the idea of a singular nationalism not seen elsewhere, are we succumbing to a narrow-minded worldview today? A nation that aimed to be characterized by profound differences of caste, creed, color, culture, cuisine, conviction, costume, and custom, can we really claim that we are able to hold sufficient debate to even make a passable effort of reaching a consensus? Namely, that everyone needs to agree only on the ground rules of how to disagree, are we allowed to even disagree anymore without being subjected to immature labels? Frequent clashes in our major cities and increasing inequality and exclusion are a worrying trend, rising intolerance belies an increasingly belligerent, narrow-minded nationalism. India spent the 74th anniversary of our independence, indoors, bereft of some of our personal freedom. One can only hope it does not become symbolic. Anish Esteves www.anishesteves.home.blog
