For the past 77 years, India has awoken every morning with utter gratitude for its Independence. Freedom has gone from a concept to an everyday reality, allowing modern India to live their lives in ways that our ancestors could only long for, less than a century ago. This Independence Day, My Kolkata spoke to those who inherited a free India, about the core freedoms that they wouldn’t have had access to, had they been born before 1947.
Sushmita Maheshwari and (right) Sharon Sarah Thawaney value the freedom of expression
For poet Sushmita Maheshwari, the fundamental freedom she would have lost is the freedom of speech. “Freedom of speech is very important, because it allows a poetess like me to express my thoughts, beliefs and critiques without the fear of repression. Back then, voicing dissent against colonial policies could lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment. Today, this freedom empowers me to engage in open dialogue, pen my thoughts, advocate for change, and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of democratic discourse defining modern India,” says the 49-year-old with roots in Kolkata, now residing in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.
Sharon Sarah Thawaney, who works with Observer Research Foundation (ORF) echoes Maheshwari’s thoughts, emphasising on how the British curtailed this right more severely for women. “If I were living in pre-Independent India, I wouldn't have the freedom to write openly as an Indian woman, especially on gender issues. Back then, societal norms and colonial rule silenced women’s voices, confining them to domestic roles. Today, I freely express my opinions, using my voice to advocate for gender equality—a privilege unimaginable in that era,” says the 25-year-old.
Srishti Dasgupta Sensarma, 24, adds that when the freedom to write is curtailed, so is the freedom to read. “Expression is something that has become so central to my being. I can’t imagine living in a world where I don’t have the freedom to be educated, especially as a woman, in fields that are new and require me to travel overseas,” explains the assistant restaurant manager at Sienna Store & Cafe, Hindustan Park, Kolkata.
Sahen Gupta believes that in a pre-Independent India, people wouldn’t have had the freedom of ambition
Education feeds ambition, which is the holy grail for Sahen Gupta, a sports psychologist and writer. “Ambition allows me to aspire to something which yesterday was not known, and tomorrow might just be possible with some hard work. Without the freedom to aspire, life would've been monotonous and stagnant, which is not how I see myself,” says the 25-year-old, who is also a columnist with My Kolkata.
Balancing the deft roles of heritage and disaster management along with being a musician, Sukrit Sen believes that in pre-Independent India, his national identity would have been at stake. Having had the pleasure of representing India in diplomatic spaces, he confesses that without holding the tricolour aloft, he would’ve felt lost. “As one of the biggest democracies and a cultural melting pot, we have an important role to play in avenues like climate action and cultural diplomacy. I’m happy to be a tiny contributor to the same,” the 29-year-old beams.
Fashion designer Priyankur Sengupta takes Sen’s argument forward, emphasising on how even his personal identity would’ve been under threat before 1947. Given that his profession involves promoting Indian crafts and textiles, there would have been a massive question over his livelihood too. “In pre-Independent India, I wouldn’t have had the freedom of being myself. Indian heritage craft and textile is a big part of my existence, and if I were prevented from dedicating myself to them, I would have joined the Swadeshi Movement. Then again, given the challenges, who knows if I would’ve been a designer at all,” wonders the 28-year-old.
(From left) Sukrit Sen, Priyankur Sengupta and Gourab Ghosh emphasise on how post 1947 India grants citizens the freedom of identity, be it national, professional or personal
Educator, queer rights activist and performer Gourab Ghosh also believes the freedom to identity as fundamental to existing in modern India. “Today, I can enter any government or public building irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, class or caste and assert my basic constitutional rights. This was non-existent in British India. Today’s India grants me the constitutional provision to fight against the discrimination.”
Shilaz Dutta, who works in marketing, also cherishes the freedom to celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage. “The ability to explore, innovate, and share our diverse food traditions without limitation is something we can only fully appreciate because of our Independence.”
Shaoni Rakshit emphasises the value of today’s small joys like visiting cafés, juxtaposing it with how before 1947, Indians were not allowed in premier eateries. Shilaz Dutta adds that sharing and exploring our culinary traditions is also a byproduct of being an independent nation
Marketing professional Shaoni Rakshit boils this down to the simple joys of eating out on any given day, without any limitation. “Going to cafes is an act taken for granted by people of my socio-economic class, as we vie for the superfluous joy of beautiful ambience and stunning Instagram shots. In India under colonial rule, most premier eateries and cinemas would greet you with the sign ‘DOGS AND INDIANS NOT ALLOWED’. A trivial activity which provides us great joy, would have been a greatly denied right,” she sighs.
Inputs from Anujit Mitter, Pooja Mitra, Jaismita Alexander and Nancy Jaiswal
