Yet another Independence Day has slipped by, and with it, all the usual rituals – flag hoisting, speeches, prayers and songs. Everybody seems content with remembrance of the day and of those who lived and died for it.  It seems enough to say we have played our path.  Yes and with it, the pledge that we are proud, free Indians.

Each year, should however make us ponder on ‘Freedom.’  Are we really free? Have we attained true freedom.  India has gained physical and external freedom, but ‘internal’ and inner freedom – how much of it do we have? Are we free, for example from the bondage of ignorance? Many of us hardly realize that living as we are in the 21^st Century, we are still slaves of rumours, of taking media, politicians and other sources of information as ‘truth’. 

We are guilty of  ‘not knowing’ – what with the  vast amount of available literature, computer information and internet. We still live limited lives.  Our world is within a frame.  Many a times I have marvelled at senior citizens from the states and countries embarking on tours and holidays while we remain content to stay ‘home’ fend the fires of security and remain slaves to our televisions.  Our youth, like-wise are happy to do lip-service and dole out rations of their energies in small time social services like yearly visits to orphanages, aged homes and the like.  How  many of our youth and youth groups have ventured into voluntary services to homes, hospitals and disaster affected regions to render yeomen services such as relief work in disaster affected areas or regular work in homes and hospitals? That would truly be called ‘service to the community.’  If youth could be motivated into such services, a flame of compassion, responsibility and desire to serve would be enkindled.

Years ago, as a student leader attending a National Leadership camp, we were exposed to slums and slum life.  By the end of the camp, I knew what suffering really entailed, what hunger meant and what every rupee could do.  Over the years, whenever I grumbled a fleeting image of those slums has shaken me back to thanksgiving that I have so much more.

To-day, our community here, is better off than it ever was, most children have more than their parents could have ever dreamt of.  And parents in the haste to give what they did not have, are guilty of over doing their idea of love and generosity.  The result is – what we see around us!

Yes, freedom is the ability to choose and being responsible to ourselves and others.  If this had happened there would be more peace in the families, village and country at large.  Parents need to take control of the situation from the early years.  Correction should be of the ‘behaviour’ not the person.  If this is impressed on the child as he grew up there would be more acceptance of correction.

Responsibility brings in maturity and with it, will be freedom with value attached to it.  The family needs to share its conflicts, problems and to communicate.  Then and only then, there will be true freedom.  Let us end on a note of hope that not just children and youth will hold up the torches of true freedom, but that parents and the community at large will rise up to the idea and that faith in God will help all to make a difference and bring change for today and the future.

Mrs. Brenda Lobo D’Souza

( Is a teacher in St.Michael’s High school, Vagator –Anjuna)