Saturday, August 14, 2010

Where the mind is without fear...there lays real freedom


Nothing is as precious as one's freedom. Dreams, aspirations, and ideals mean nothing if one does not have the freedom to pursue them.

what does freedom mean?

For some it will mean graduating from school, finally getting out into the wide world, getting a job and earning money. For some it will mean throwing a bag in the car and getting out of the city into the wide open country to breathe good clean air. For some, freedom simply means not being imprisoned by responsibilities and commitments.

Freedom is certainly all those things and more.

There is an intrinsic need to loosen and throw off the shackles of circumstances and situations that people believe hold them back and curb their desire to fly. And yet, sooner or later, if you've headed out into the country for a break, you have to curtail your freedom again. You have to go back to the city, or to the job the next day, or knuckle down to the next task at hand, until the urge to break free overwhelms you again. So the cycle turns, and turns, and turns, leaving you more and more dissatisfied with what you have and constantly being reminded of that need to escape.

Real freedom isn't dependent upon external circumstances. Real freedom is right there in our own heart, mind and soul if we could only recognise it. The freedom from being controlled by boredom, or dislike of people we don't particularly get on with. Imagine the freedom from the need to own, control and to fear loss of people or things. Imagine the freedom from the suffocating need to be loved, respected, admired or valued. Freedom from being defensive and territorial. Yes, to be free is not just about being 18 years old and have a say at the ballots. Its not about tatoos and navel rings, late nights and drinking bouts. Its much more and its much before. Real freedom takes real courage.

Otto Frank's quote to his daughter Anne is relevant to all of us. "Always remember this Anna, there are no walls, no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind."

Our country stands tall in her achievements, She has done it inspite of the politicians, the corruption, the red tape, the menace and the filth. I think we can rise above all this too and be free in the real sense. Happy Independence Day! The lines below made me proud, hope they will make you smile today!

WORLD HISTORY - FACTS ABOUT INDIA

India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.


India invented the Number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.


The world's first University was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects.The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.


According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.


Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.


Although western media portray modern images of India as poverty striken and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.


The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago. The very word "Navigation" is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH.


The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean Theorem. British scholars have last year (1999) officially published that Budhayan's works dates to the 6th Century which is long before the European mathematicians.


Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th Century; the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 1053.


According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.


USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.


The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
Chess was invented in India.


Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India.


When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilisation).


The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.

36 comments:

wise donkey said...

yes freedom is priceless, and a free body in a free land is wasted without a free mind.
well said:)
and loved the quote:)

Rajesh said...

Fabulous post. Me too always proud to be Indian.

Kavita Saharia said...

Janani Janambhoomischa Swargadapi Garyasi...very proud to be an Indian.

Beautiful post Sujata !

The header is so pretty and so is the new look of your blog.

Once again Happy Independence Day.

R. Ramesh said...

Happy Independence Day sujata ji..
of course awesome post..makes every indian proud..u have written about the past achievements..our future gen indian boys n girls will capture the world with hard work, love and cheerfulness..sure, right?

Maria said...

Sujata!

Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind.

Amrit said...

Sujata,

Wonderful design of the blog. Very creative.

I disagree with one point on this post. India invaded Pakistan in 1971 to help Mukti Vahini and formed Bangla Desh. But India should be proud of that. If needed, India should invade....India shall be prepared to invade...

Gayathri said...

1)Amazing template

2)Your definition about freedom is too good.. I'd been reading Gita for quite some time now..What you said is more or less what is said in it.. Be beyond every imaginable emotions,love,hatred,anger,sadness,joy..
Be beyond any grip of poignancy.. That will leave you calm always!

3)We can,of course,be proud about our legacy and the reverential history.. But to bask in its glory or to blame the poverty inflicted by a colonial past would never add feathers to our present. We have come a long way,which is though diminutive when compared to our contemporaries. We surge ahead when we have the urge for perfection,not when we are satisfied with what we have. We still can be satisfied that we have more literacy than pakistan or more per capita than zambia or the such frivolous justification. But is that what we want out of India??

Rightly as Frost had written,
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. "

Kavi said...

Super template !!

and very many iday wishes to you !

:)

Suraj said...

Happy Independence Day Sujata !

Freedom for me until few years ago meant getting away from reality.But now i almost have the same perspective about freedom as of yours. One !

I strongly feel the present generation needs to know more about India's history at least that should give them some pride at a time when we are seen as a nation which supplies cheap human resources.

Keep writing !

RGB said...

I'm so happy being an Indian and living in India. Don't know where else I can find so much of freedom to just be myself! Of course, there are some things that make us feel ashamed of the place, but weighing it against all the good things, India still rules. Happy Independence Day!

Balachandran V said...

Freedom is to be free from your ego. Everything else follow.

About pride being an Indian :
1. Achievements in the past do not count. What counts is what we are now.

2. India is exterminating millions of indigenous groups - by the Narmada dam, by consorting with the mining interests in Chattisgarh and elsewhere. In Kerala, the land of the tribals have been usurped by Wind Mill companies and what, tell me, Sujata, have this country done for the original inhabitants? NOTHING!

3. The CWG corruption scandal and the way the govt is covering up for Suresh Kalmadi. India has one of the highest corruption records.

4. India never invaded any country in the last 1000 years? Which is the India you are talking about? India came into existence exactly on 15th Aug 1947! All the petty kingdoms had enough bloodletting to drown the world!

5. The CPM in Bengal and the Nandigram incident.

6. The crores supposedly spend in Kashmir - how much of it has gone to the people?

7. Gujarat and the genocides.

8. Operation Blue Star.

9. Atrocities in the northern states against low-castes and other minorities.

10. I could go on and on. I happen to be an Indian, only because I was born in this particular geographical region.

Finally, Sujata, if my words have been harsh, my sincere apologies. But before jumping into the bandwagon " I am proud to be Indian", lets have some introspection, honest!

Maybe you or I as individuals cannot do much about it. But at least let us be honest enough to admit that there is scarcely anything to be proud about our country. On this Independence Day, let us vow that we will criticize ourselves and try to better things, in whatever little way we can.

Balachandran V said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
indranil said...

amazing India.. lets enjoy our independence. pursue our dreams unfettered.

does it really matter if nearly half a billion Indians still live under the poverty line. countless villages have no power and the trek to the nearest source of drinking water could put any marathon runner to shame. we invented the zero and algebra and what not, and still we have millions illiterate. Susrutha conducted the earliest surgeries thousands years ago, but a ill equipped health centre with almost no doctors in attendance is what takes care of most of rural Indians. this list could be endless but it really does not matter. even if Sunil Ganguly wrote

khudartho sishu chay na swaraaj
chay shey shudhu doo mutho bhaath

amazing India.. happy 64th Independence day...

Balachandran V said...

'It does not matter', my friend says. What does, uh?

Sujata, I suggest you read Arundhati Roy's Scimitars in Sun. I know, there are many who love to hate A Roy. But her's is one of the few honest voices in this corrupt, hypocritical nation.

BK Chowla, said...

It is a very honest post and I am impressed.
Happy independence day to all of you

anilkurup59 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Interesting post and blog!
Happy Indian Independence Day!!!

arvind said...

"Imagine the freedom from the need to own, control and to fear loss of people or things.

Imagine the freedom from the suffocating need to be loved, respected, admired or valued"

so lovely words..
and at times while freeing from this alone - we may feel our responsibility..
is anyone put on sun any responsibility to shine everyday? no..
once we free, as u said - we may take the responsibility as of our nature and not as a burden..

happy independence day..

pradipwritenow said...

A wonderful post. Technically India invaded East Pakistan to give freedom to Bangaladeshis. I wish let my freedom be not become a torture to others. Mr. Balchandran need to be a little positive thinker. The development of Chhatisgarh is stopped by political party. He should visit the villages of Chhatisgarh and should himself realise who stopped whom.

anilkurup59 said...

Coming back to your post . As I noted the quote "Always remember this Anna, there are no walls, no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind."I will hold as one of the most wanted quotes.
After going through the post a second time I feel that you have been aroused by jingoistic fervour. Perhaps I might be ridiculed for not appreciating the patriotic fervour in you.
I mentioned in the post I posted on my Blog and I state the point again, that it is immaterial and dosent matter a bit as to what India was. What matters is where have we taken her and where is she now and where can she possibly go from here?
To quote often what India was, or what India gave the world in matters of astronomy, mathematics etc and how rich India was or how erudite the ancient India was is my friend immaterial now.
Look around on this Independence day, and we will see where we stand and where we might head. Describing such views as pessimistic well, who dosent want to be an optimist.?

Sumandebray said...

Happy I Day
Freedom is to be freedom of thoughts.
We are proud to be Indians. We are a nation of a billion people.... Not everything is perfect
But its upon us to fix it. Sitting back and ctiticizing others including those who want to make a differece is not going to do any good.
I hope we have less and less of these people

Lazyani said...

Happy Independence Day, Sujata.

Appreciate the pride that you take in enjoying the Independence in this much maligned country of ours.

I know and accept that a lot has gone wrong but there is no point in arm-chair criticism. One should contribute in ones little ways.

And one gentle reminder to friends-- that we are able to talk criticise and dissect all this in a public forum without any fear is itself a celebration of our Independence. Jai Hind:)

Destiny's child... said...

Happy independence day! :)
Most of us are proud to be Indians and love our country for what it is. This year would have been a lot more special, if we were conducting a good Common Wealth Games...that would have been something to look forward to....

ZB said...

Freedom definitively is much more and worth much more than what we understand.

But as Mr.Balachandran points out, the achievements of the past are hardly anything for which we should be proud of.India was created after 1947.Before that there were thousands of small states.

We all are proud of India, it being our mother land. That also means that if we were born in Uganda, we would be equally proud of being an Ugandan.Just being born an Indian, should we all be proud of being Indian? Otherwise we are equally bad as any third world country.
I dont mean to spoil the Independence day Party, but looking at my country from a world view or perspective, or rather a birds eyes view of the world as one, i see India way behind....But nicely written. Sorry Sujata. TC:)

anilkurup59 said...

I do not know that if Sumandebray's wish to have less and less people like some of us who criticises are around will come true?
Dear friend I m an Indian too by birth.And will feel peeved at our sate of affairs.We have no right to be proud not of what we were,but what we are today.Do you ever think and feel proud about your Indanness on other days except Aug 15 th?
I think quite a few blogs and comments on this blog are there to ponder. So my friend read them and introspect, throw away your patriotic blinkers and analyse, look around . Bharath mahan is not on cricket fields alone it has to reflect in the multitude of faces that are neglected by you and me.

Debopam Chaudhuri said...

Well written, and agreed with the fact that freedom is a feeling that comes from with in. But although India should be proud with all its acievements from the past, but at present we are mis-using the definition of freedom - to be able to do whatever we want. The sense of responsibility that inherently adheres to it has been lost.

sujata sengupta said...

Dear all,

Thanks for writing in and expressing your views and thoughts openly. It is much appreciated. Freedom is a lot of things, and i have tried to put in my thoughts to the best of my ability. For me freedom is to wear Indian clothes to work everday inspite of staying away from India, at the cost of fighting with my boss, and the cost of losing my job, which I love. Its a small thing, but its a stand I believe in. similarly Indian sentiments are inbred in all of us, wherever we might stay, we are indians througout the year.

We criticise, we condemn, we point fingers and give up, but then what? How many of us adopts a kid? how many of us cleans their neighbourhood? how many of us brings up an Indian child at home? India is changing, today I know of young,single women from middle class society adopting babies. For me each incident like this is a reason to celebrate. I dont have my blinkers on, maybe we should look and highlight the positives, the western world is taking good care of the negetives anyways!!

I love you all, and each of your thoughts are special.

Shivangi Shaily said...

Jai hind! :)

Poornima said...

Very nice and intriguing :)

Nona said...

Nice thoughts for the independence day! Wish you were on the TV instead of sleep inducing speakers!

indranil said...

just couldn't help adding this remark. in the theme song of the iconic film "Born Free" there goes a line as...... Born Free, and life is worth living......

guess thats sums it up all

deeps said...

the real freedom comes from within...
you have put down some challenging thoughts!!

Anonymous said...

Very Interesting and thought provoking. I have lived outside of India most of my life. Yet, I crave to stay back here each time I come here for vacation. I love it here in India. With all its imperfections and problems and issues, its still my home. Freedom IS where the mind is without fear.And hence, we never ever will be totally free.

Happy Independence Day, once again!

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am a American teenaged girl and I respect all countries and all ways of life. But when I was looking at your posts I can say I was discusseded and disrespected. Not because of what you said but how you changed the picture "The Raising of the Flag" from an American flag to a Indian flag. But even though I felt disrespected I can see why you used that picture. To Americans that picture means freedom, rights, respect, independents, pretty much what America is. What I am getting at is would you please take the picture down, because I feel and also others feel disrespected. I would also like to wish you a Happy independence.

15 year old, Sara.

Unknown said...

While I wish you a happy republic day, I would like to tell you the history of the flag raising picture you have used in your post. That picture was morphed with an Indian flag in the place of the American flag, which was raised on Iwo Jima , Japan. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

I have seen thousands of people using that picture with an Indian flag which is not only an insult to the American military and its world war campaign but also to the Indian military.

Thank you!

anilkurup59 said...

Sujatha,

Vallabh's point blank facts tells it all.