Freedom of speech is a fundamental right provided to us by Constitution of India. Now, this is such a debated topic, that one keeps wondering what is the difference of use and abuse of this fundamental right.
If I speak something that you like, then I am good /safe. But if I used some word or a sentence that irked you, then God save me! A police case could be filed against me, or the whole social media could stand against me.
You won’t have to shake your memory cells too much to recall of cases where someone said something, which someone didn’t like and hence that someone protested.
Shobha De-Shiv Sena incident on Maharashtra govt’s support to Marathi Movies.
St Stephen’s student suspension by the principal
Giriraj Singh’s remarks for/against Sonia Gandhi
AIB Roast and uproar over it
Mulayam Singh Yadav’s on rape: They are boys and mistakes do happen; but why hang them? Boys do mistakes Boys are boys, rapes happen!
The whole net neutrality debate going on in India
They all said what they wanted to. What was wrong in that?
The Indian Penal Code has some clauses that further define in which cases freedom of speech is unconditional and a person can be charged for violation. Section 153A, Section 292, Section 295A, Section 298 etc. Supreme Court recently struck down the controversial sec 66a which it said violated the freedom of speech right.
Now if it is a fundamental right of mine, then why should I worry about the repercussions of what I say or write or draw, if I am within the law?
Or on the other hand, be disturbed, irked or get angry on what someone is saying? He is a fellow citizen; he has the full right to use his freedom.
For most of the examples quoted above, they all were within the legal framework, but they still managed to create controversies, because someone didn’t like what was said.
Now my question is- are we becoming highly intolerant set of people who want to react/have a view on any and every thing being said?
Sunil Gavaskar asked Virat Kohli, Is she here (referring to Anushka Sharma) and the twitter world gets into a complete bashing mode.
Who decides what’s right and what’s wrong?
I am a citizen of a free country and I choose what I say and what I don’t. If you don’t like it, go and say whatever you want because you are also part of the same free country! Ah, I didn’t like what you said for me, I will reply back to you. You didn’t like my reply and hence you said something more? Oh now you crossed your limits, let me say something more.
When will this end? How will this end?
Arrests? Killings? Being called names like Presstitudes?
Suhel Seth (an Indian celebrity- a marketing professional, author etc.) came on a prime time debate on NDTV, being hosted by Barkha Dutt. He was defending Deepika Padukone’s My Choice Video. And he said If not Deepika, would we have Mamta Banerjee do that video? To that remark, Barkha Dutt almost jumped and said; now that’s a sexist comment Suhel. And before she could go on accusing him of being biased, Suhel said, oh come on, there is no scope of humour left in this country (not verbatim) and Barkha smiled.
I agree with Suhel completely. And that’s what I wish we all could do. Not everything needs to be heated up; there are things to be ignored too.
Everyone will keep saying/writing/painting/singing/dancing/acting what they want because the same fundamental rights govern them.
You may not like it, Let it be.
Tolerance and patience is needed from all of us. Freedom of speech is not only applicable when we speak, it is also to everyone else.
One less like, one less share, one less tweet and all those viral comments going against what someone said is what it takes.
I am guilty of breaching this by being intolerant of Deepika’s my choice Video. The post that got me my highest views till date was probably unwarranted. It’s their freedom of expression.
I resolve to be patient/tolerant/aware of rights of every other citizen of my free country. And I hope you would too.
Pic Courtesy: internet
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