Freedom or Serfdom ?

India is a free country.Be it by birth or by citizenship , every individual , rrespective of caste, creed, sex and economic or intellectual capabilities[or even an inherent lack of it],everybody - however high and mighty or lowly and lowliest of humans is free to make a choice or voice their opinion. All the more so in an era ofthe ‘right to information’ being the adage of every social busybody and self-styled activist.Yes, even nincompoops seem to be fascinated by this modern tool of democracy and liberty to use [ not abuse] freedom …So much so that every political and personal score seems easier to settle through an orchestrated campaign [of sorts] launched in a select circle of television media .

I was addressing an international conference on ‘international terrorism and HUman rights’ the other day and I had exhorted upon the august gathering in Vigyab Bhawan that the following three propositions ought to be addressed in order not to be engaged in any post-mortem exercise or mere parade of speeches[or else,it would turn into another charade]-

Firstly,that if terrorism be in the backyard, one ought to bring human rights to the forefront .

Secondly, if a democratic nationshould indulge in counter-terrorismto counter terrorism .
Thirdly,what is the role of the mass media in spreading an aura of fear among a large number of people !
Having said it on the 11 th of this month , I am compelled to think further within a space of a fortnight’s time and ask if it were not necessary for the thinkers amongst the citizenry of the country to look further and introspect within their good conscience ?
How is it that self-styled espousers opf the common weal are being able to sling mud at every high office ,institution and personality - by indulging in mud-slingling or smear-campaigns whilst leading right royal and seemingly immune lives?
How can a certain lobby or group of devil-may-care-for-the-law attitude smacking folk in an age of protests against ‘paid-news’ manage to stage such news-coups if they indeed were living a puritan life of frugal means?
How can a truly patriotic person seek to abet ,aid or assist any anti-national activity which would invariably result in a slur on the dignity of the Nation and our national character?
 I was ashamed at the very first question posed to me in a television interview in LOndon last month about the spate of controversies hitting the headlines of our good Motherland. I stoicly explained the ins and outs of a growing democracy’stolerance towards every point of view expressed by various mind-sets and quarters of social or political groupings . BUt deep down ,I thought it fit to introspect and a bit of soul-searching reveals the following hard facts of reality -
1. A minority of self-professed social crusaders are either knowingly or unwittingly participating in a hideous campaign to tarnish the pillars of Democracy of INdia.
2. Self-styled crusaders involve several influential people who have either demitted important posts or are vying such offices of high benefits-in kind or otherwise.
3. Public confidence in the elected representatives of people has diminshed to a great extent and that in administrators never really existed thanks to hang-over of red-tapism and feudal ways .
4. What has left to be looked up to is the institution of Judiciary which alone has kept this largest democracy alive, vibrant and resilent throughout stormy periods of growt, unrest and disruption of established norms .So,what is being sought to be undertaken apparently is a campaign to instill lack-of-confidence in this last bastion of  the young DEmocracy .
5. To meet this end, the fourth estate is being utilized by notably quislings and lame ducks of the Democracy .
As I leave you to ponder about the gross reality of this truism , I assure you that the people of our great five thousand years old civilization are far too wiser and abler to fall prey to such wicked machinations .
Jai Hind!