So it’s independence day today and once again the news feed in facebook and the watsapp messages will get flooded with greetings for a happy independence day. Schools and colleges with hold cultural programs and offices will hoist the national flag. People will dress up in their traditional best and enjoy the sweets that gets distributed. We shall celebrate freedom.

There was a time in history when freedom would mean winning wars by fighting with enemies.  Then there was a time when we fought for freedom from foreign rule in our country. So the idea of being free actually existed since years. But people born in the post independence era, there was no real war or movement. So does that really mean we are free since birth?

Cut to 2017. On one hand, we have a free, happy India celebrating 70 years of independence. And on the other, a girl is still getting married before she turns 18.  She is not free to study even if she wants. Another girl is not free to marry her love and has to marry the boy her parents chose. Another one is bearing the pain for refusing to give in to her stalker. Then there is one who wanted to continue her well paid job but here she is bringing her child up single handedly because her loving husband believes thats the duty of a mother.

But there are also women who were brought up in a society where the girl has access to education of her choice. There is no extra marks for being a girl, not even any additional tax benefit. Women are occupying the senior most positions in the offices, not because of reservations but because they really deserve. They are being hailed for balancing home and work with elan. The husband at home is also doing dishes, cooking delicious meals, helping her to look after the child.

 I loved the movie Toilet I watched recently. Not just because of Akshay Kumar and his superb acting skills but also the subtle message that Bhumi’s character gave out. She was newly married, had a romantic husband (doctor engineer se zyada romance to important hai) but she refused to accept the tradition which every woman in the village had followed forever. She was not used to it and she will not adjust to it. Just because we are married we dont have to stop being free. And everyone had to eventually accept her needs.

No matter which section or class of the society you belong to, freedom to some extent is given to you. But to a larger extent depends on you. There will always be a time when you have to decide to make yourself free. This is a continuous battle, which we fight with the society and more with ourselves every single day. For there are still people who believes in curbing your freedom and there are still some who are afraid to claim them. Like Bhumi said her biggest complaint is not against the society or the government but against the women of her village who never protested.

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Do not be dependent in a independent country. Learn to claim the freedom. When the entire world is willing to recognise you, dont let anyone pull you down or treat you inferior.  So when that aunt lectures you for not being married yet at 28, tell her that you are free to be married when you want. When the in law asks you to shred your jeans for a sari, or when to wake up or when to visit your parents, tell them that you respect them but you are free to do what you want. When you are an educated and independent woman, but your husband still wants to decide how to spend your own money, tell them not to bother.  You cant change people’s mindset but we can certainly choose not to conform to those and have a mind of our own. Do not accept half freedom. Do refuse to remain dominated in a free world. Live free. For you have worked hard to get this freedom and you deserve this. So the next time, someone wants you to do something against your wish, you know the powerful “F word” to use. Tell them you are “Free”.