As the newly appointed President of IIMB Orators Club, I find myself wrestling with profound questions that shape our collective consciousness. This week’s theme, “Let the Mind Rise, Unshackled,” comes at a poignant moment—just after India’s 79th Independence Day—when the very essence of freedom demands our deepest contemplation.
The Paradox of Modern Freedom
What is freedom in today’s India? This question haunts me as I observe the contradictions that define our daily existence.
Is it freedom when Delhi’s streets become safer from stray dogs, or are we simply caging innocent animals and trading one fear for another form of cruelty?
When we escape Bangalore’s chaos for a long weekend getaway, are we exercising our freedom to explore, or are we merely running from unresolved problems that await our return?
Choosing to drive our own car feels like freedom from the dust, chaos, and unpredictability of public transport. But in doing so, do we not contribute to the very traffic congestion that strangles our cities?
We celebrate the convenience of high-rise apartments with delivery services at our beck and call. Yet, are we inadvertently creating a generation trapped in low-skill jobs instead of pursuing meaningful careers and personal growth?
When Contradictions Cloud Clarity
These paradoxes left me bewildered. In my search for answers, I turned to the eternal wisdom of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, whose words have guided generations through moments of confusion and crisis.
His immortal poem “Where the Mind is Without Fear” resonated with startling clarity:
“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action—
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”
The Revelation: True Freedom Awaits
In Tagore’s vision, I found my answer. True freedom is not about escaping inconvenience or choosing the path of least resistance. It’s not about individual comfort at the expense of collective progress.
Real freedom is:
- A mind unshackled by fear, standing tall with dignity
- Knowledge accessible to all, breaking down barriers of privilege
- Unity that transcends the narrow walls we build around caste, class, and community
- Words rooted in truth, not convenience or popular opinion
- Relentless pursuit of excellence and betterment
- Reasoning that doesn’t get lost in the quicksand of outdated traditions
- Thoughts and actions that expand horizons rather than contract them
The Unfinished Journey
As I reflect on Tagore’s words, a humbling realization emerges: despite 79 years of political independence, we are still striving toward the “heaven of freedom” he envisioned.
Our freedom struggle didn’t end in 1947—it evolved. Today, we fight different battles: against ignorance, inequality, environmental degradation, and the narrow thinking that fragments our society.
Every time we choose convenience over conscience, comfort over courage, or personal gain over collective good, we postpone that awakening Tagore dreamed of.
A Call to Action
As we stand at this crossroads of modern India, the question isn’t whether we are free—it’s whether we are worthy of the freedom our ancestors envisioned.
The mind that rises unshackled is one that:
- Questions without fear
- Learns without barriers
- Connects without prejudice
- Speaks with authenticity
- Strives with purpose
- Reasons with clarity
- Acts with expanding vision
This Independence Day season, let us not just celebrate our freedom—let us earn it anew, every single day.
The awakening Tagore spoke of isn’t a distant dream. It’s a daily choice, a continuous journey, and a collective responsibility.
Jai Hind.
What does freedom mean to you in today’s India? How do you navigate the paradoxes of modern life while staying true to the ideals our nation was built upon? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Life as Sakti 