Love can never possess. Love is giving freedom to the other. Love is an unconditional gift, it is not a bargain.
— Osho
My article will tell you through a short story how important freedom is in everyone’s life.. Freedom should not be limited to only one person or gender. It should be equally available to all.
Before starting the story, one thing we all should remember:
- One of the worst things you can do as a human being is ,“to rule and allow unsatisfactory things to happen around you.”
- No one has the right to dominate, to wipe out precious smile and limit anyone.
Let’s get started:
Like every day, Adarsh and his father were discussing all the events of the day at the dinning table.
Anand asked, “my son, what did you study in the school today?“
Dad, today, the teacher taught us that, on 15 August 1947, we Indians got independence from British rule.
“Can you tell me the names of some great freedom fighters who dedicated their whole life for the independence of our country?”
“Yes dad, freedom fighters like: Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Pandit Nehru, Lokmanya Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Subhash Chandra Bose, who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.” Said the little boy.
“Great, my son!”
“Dad, may I ask you a question?”
“yeah sure, what is it?”
What is freedom?
I wanted to ask this question to the teacher but I couldn’t because the school bell had already rung.
Anand replied, “state in which we can express our thoughts without any fear, we are not under anyone’s control, there are no rules and regulations as to what we want to do with our life and how we want to live is called freedom.”
In simple words, “Do you have any restrictions? , like- what you read? where you go? what you eat? what you wear? and how you laugh?”
No, the little boy replied, bowing his head down.
Looking up, he said, “dad, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Pandit Nehru, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Lokmanya Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Subhash Chandra Bose will have to be called again.”
Anand smiled and asked, why son?
Have you not got freedom yet?
“Adarsh had a lot to say but he couldn’t understand how to say it to his father. Seeing him sad Anand asked.”
“Adarsh, my son, why are you upset? What happened?”
The little boy said with a heavy heart, “dad, I am free and can do anything. You and I are free, we have achieved independence, but.
“when will 15 August 1947 come for mom and sister?” Saying this, Adarsh’s eyes welled up with tears and father’s eyes bowed down in shame.
“Adarsh’s statement pierced his heart like a sharp arrow.”
After a few moments of silence he looks at his daughter and thinks that all the girls of her age are enjoying their life, but she is still confined within four walls. He then looks at his wife, who was neither given the right to take any decisions nor to express her views openly.
“Anand realize that this house is like a cage for them. From that day Anand decided that from now on everyone will be given equal freedom in this house.”
“There is a deep meaning and important lesson hidden in this short story. Our first and foremost responsibility is to take care of our loved ones before extending our support.”
“Charity begins at home “
My humble request is try to talk to her at least once after reading this article.
Ask, what is bothering her? Is she leaving her life with freedom or not, if not, then I request you to bring freedom and happiness in her life. Whether your place in her life is that of Adarsh’s father or Adarsh himself.
“If the women of the house are not happy, then every member of the family has to suffer the consequences. If the women are happy then the entire family lives in happiness and peace.”
Once you talk to her share your experience in the comment box below.
“Stay connected, keep smiling!”
