I am very happy to learn that Supreme Court has finally struck down the draconian provision of the IT Act section 66A in its entirety!
I always discussed and told my students that 'we have to wait for the day it is put before the Hon'le Court and Court will strike it down! It is unconstitutional.' I am glad that the day has arrived!
But suddenly I feel that battle is only half won, at least for me! I ask myself, Will this law make any difference to me? I never got afraid of this law and always voiced my opinion. I always knew that the they I am hauled up for breach of this law for posting my opinion in social media, I shall challenge it and fight tooth and nail.
My freedom of speech cannot be restricted by any law, but my own people! I have been struggling to express my anguish and fight for injustice that I see around. But each time, I am stopped by not by any law but my own people! As I always say, battle begins at home and the toughest battle is one which is fought at home!
In a recent visit to a government hospital, I was at pain to see how inaccessible and difficult health services in India has become. Poor people have to stand in queues for hours to see a doctor for a minute . I was in the OPD of a senior doctor where I witnessed his utter rudity! I wanted to argue back, not for myself, but for that poor, uneducated woman who came from some remote village. She may have never opened her mouth in front of male members in her family, and here the doctor asked her very rudely " क्या प्राब्लम है? जल्दी बताओ" and that Amma scared of the hoarseness of the his voice, answered meekly,"कलेजा में धक धक होता है" The doctor did not even spend a minute to further investigate on this and asked this lady to leave after he scribbled some medicines. She wanted to say something but he impressed upon her that she should leave as he has no time!
I wanted to fight for her, question that doctor, question the system, but my husband stopped me!
In another incident, while watching "India's daughter", I was fuming with anger and crying on the fate of the women in this country. Suddenly, I received a call from some one in our family. I shared my anguish with her and she quickly replied, "छोरो तुम कुछ नहीं बोलना.
I always discussed and told my students that 'we have to wait for the day it is put before the Hon'le Court and Court will strike it down! It is unconstitutional.' I am glad that the day has arrived!
But suddenly I feel that battle is only half won, at least for me! I ask myself, Will this law make any difference to me? I never got afraid of this law and always voiced my opinion. I always knew that the they I am hauled up for breach of this law for posting my opinion in social media, I shall challenge it and fight tooth and nail.
My freedom of speech cannot be restricted by any law, but my own people! I have been struggling to express my anguish and fight for injustice that I see around. But each time, I am stopped by not by any law but my own people! As I always say, battle begins at home and the toughest battle is one which is fought at home!
In a recent visit to a government hospital, I was at pain to see how inaccessible and difficult health services in India has become. Poor people have to stand in queues for hours to see a doctor for a minute . I was in the OPD of a senior doctor where I witnessed his utter rudity! I wanted to argue back, not for myself, but for that poor, uneducated woman who came from some remote village. She may have never opened her mouth in front of male members in her family, and here the doctor asked her very rudely " क्या प्राब्लम है? जल्दी बताओ" and that Amma scared of the hoarseness of the his voice, answered meekly,"कलेजा में धक धक होता है" The doctor did not even spend a minute to further investigate on this and asked this lady to leave after he scribbled some medicines. She wanted to say something but he impressed upon her that she should leave as he has no time!
I wanted to fight for her, question that doctor, question the system, but my husband stopped me!
In another incident, while watching "India's daughter", I was fuming with anger and crying on the fate of the women in this country. Suddenly, I received a call from some one in our family. I shared my anguish with her and she quickly replied, "छोरो तुम कुछ नहीं बोलना.
In yet another recent incident, when my husband was in hospital detected with some ailment, I was asked by some one close, "what is your birth detail? I need to match your horoscope!" Startled and pained at the same time, to see how I was being investigated for his illness, I submitted to the request. I wanted to argue back but could not! I could not argue back, surrendered my freedom to differ, to express and question and no IT Act prevented me. It was my own hesitation, from creating any conflict prevented me from questioning the cliches. It was my own people around me who asked me to stop, may be for my own good !.
However, I strongly believe that victory will be felt in its fullest only when people for whom these laws are made, express themselves not only on social media, but also in their day to day lives! People need to open their minds and become amicable to expression of opinion, even those which are contrary to their own beliefs for "conflict is beginning of consciousness".
P.S. I too need to walk my talk!
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