City youngsters ask: Are we really free?

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

With the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign becoming a hit in Bengaluru, you can see the tricolour fluttering across the city. The city is now all set for the Independence Day celebrations.

On the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence, News Trail spoke to youth in the city to know what they feel about it.

 Shreya Giri, a student at Christ University, said, “In today’s India, I feel that the word freedom is just for namesake. Every other day we come across shocking stories of communalism and hatred. This feels like the perfect time to ask are we really free in every sense? Independence for me would mean where nobody has to live in fear, and everyone is treated equally in the eyes of the law.”

 Another student Gargi says she is delighted at how far India has come. “As a citizen, I feel India has achieved a lot in 75 years. If you compare how it was when the Britishers left the country, and now what all have we achieved? I am extremely proud of the country,” she said. Souptik Datta, a journalist, says, “I don’t think we are free at all. Recently Zubair was arrested for a small tweet. We have to think twice before posting anything online. The rightwing government is definitely trying to curtail press freedom, affecting the overall individual freedom in the society.”

What the youth want?

Aratrika, a student activist, says, “It’s not independence if it is not for everyone. The government should take conscious decisions to bridge the gap between rich and poor. There is also an urgent need for better education and the health care system. The essence of true independence is when everyone has access to a better life. The focus should not be on how many houses are hoisting the tricolour, but on how many people are getting employment opportunities and an improved lifestyle.”