Freedom

This is a poem I wrote that reflects the Indian mindset towards politics and towards our leaders on Independence Day (August 15th) 2008. It was published in my school's Newsletter (the Vasant Valley Today) of whose Editorial Board I was a member then, and am Chief Editor now.

Freedom

They say that I can choose

The ones that will

Lead me.

They say that I may

Speak, preach, write, feel

Anything that compels me

They tell me that I have the right

To exist.

To dare.

The freedom is mine

To use how I will, they say.

To bear the guilt

Of unfinished ventures,

Of illegal liaisons;

To accept the responsibility

Of spreading lies,

Of preaching divine hatred;

To shoulder the burden

Of the grime that fills us-

Our streets, our homes, our minds

And our hearts

Without a second thought.

They tell me my freedom is precious

So burn, pilfer and terrorize.

Exercise that right.

They have the freedom to. They can.

Stop.

I am free.

Free to correct their wrongs.

Free to reject

That which they force on to me.

Free to question.

Widespread opinion is not always the truth.

They gave me the freedom

To be like them.

I’m giving myself the freedom

To prove them wrong.

- Ayesha Malik