Freedom

Taking things for granted is one of the worst qualities of we human beings. Freedom, is one such thing. I was earlier today reading a book on Indian history and was once again amazed by the passion with which people fought to achieve freedom aka Independence.

After more than 60 years of achieveing that "Freedom", what does it really mean to us? Do we really understand what Freedom is? Or is that just a good enough reason to get a National holiday?

As Osho says, you really understand the meaning of "Freedom" when you realise that it is not "Freedom from". Rather it is "Freedom to". When we achieved independence on that historic night, the real reason to celebrate was not that we achieved "freedom from" the British. Infact, the reason was that we achieved the "freedom to" build our country based on the way we wanted it.

When you look around and see the political situation in Pakistan or Iraq, you realise how lucky you are to have that freedom to do what you want. To live in a land where you can voice your opinion and be heard. To have that freedom to choose a career that you are passionate about. We probably don't realise its relevance on a day-to-day basis. But ask somebody who craves to have that freedom and you will know how blessed you are.

There are so many songs which talk about freedom and the fight for it. There is one song that is my favourite. It is a song called "Free" by Lighthouse Family. Whenever I listen to this song, I feel like a citizen of this earth where there are no boundaries, no religion, no caste, no bias whatsoever. Where I would crave to build a world free of wars and hatred. It makes me dream and pray for a world where love rules and everything else takes a backseat. Here are the lyrics:

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
And I wish you could know how it feels to be me
Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
And I'd sing cos I know how it feels to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear

One love one blood
One life you've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers
One love but we're not the same
We got to carry each other

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.....