What is Liberty?
"Kadambini mariya praman karilo je se mare nai (Beng.)" ......
After Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
"Mare gele benche jai"... A common Bengali phrase uttered by commoners under distress..
[the above two Bengali sentences are hard to translate]
Are Chacha Nehru's children -- all of them--- born free? Or would he rest in peace to learn that someone cares to see that his children remain free? Are Hindus born free --- or are they property of the Government, the local lords, and the family elders? Are Hindu children born free to speak for themselves, or are they mandatorily represented by, as is the custom in some Hindu villages, the eldest son of their eldest paternal uncle, or the eldest son of their eldest maternal uncle? Who is 'somebody' in such villages? Though there are better persons to know of Chacha's dream of liberty and equality, I doubt if Nehru's dream came to fruition in Bihar, Orissa, and even in the South-- home of the usual gentlemanly Indians.
I experienced the taste of liberty for the first time .. .. in Chicago, when the judge permitted to speak me on my own behalf, to argue in favour of my personal good. The village boy in me went to the courtroom AS SOMEONE WHO COULD NOT PAY HIS BILLS. I met both Judge Garber and Judge River (spelling mistakes are unintentional). I was the only non-white in the courtroom at that time. The lawyers were smart, agressive, qualified with degrees, active and well-dressed. And you know how I am. As I waited for the judge, I was rather worried. As the judge entered, he looked 'normal' to me. I told him that I have no money, he permitted me to argue on my own behalf --- as if I were a white citizen. The judge impressed me by wishing me well, specially in my job hunt! I lost my case, and the counter claim I had can never be won, since I could only make a verbal statement without material evidence (essentially an Act of God). Though I did not get any money or pay, I liked the cool and calm nature of the Judge in Chicago, I was happy that he treated me with 'due respect' despite financial miseries. That was nine years ago!
In the recent past, I visited the Karnataka High Court several times. I liked the well-mannered, polished, learned judges. Only Judge Manjunath gave me headache!
I experienced personal liberty the second time, when a Pastor in a Church in Chicago, introduced me to his congregation, and permitted me to speak to the Church in a free manner. I talked about several of my plans in Chicago, as Beachy Busy.
What is liberty? Is 'due respect' and 'due consideration' for all as utopian as 'socialism'?
Am I at liberty to study in Bangalore? Am I at liberty to study in Chicago? Am I at liberty to study, in either of the two cities, Law, Politics, and Religion? Am I at liberty to study, in either of these two cities, without a supervisor, or without affiliation with a University?
Am I at liberty to own property? Am I at liberty to own property in Bangalore? Am I at liberty to own the new material (Property) produced out of my own labour, skill, information, efforts, experience, judgement and knowledge? Am I at liberty to own the new material (Property) produced in the privacy of my home, whether owned or rented?
Am I at liberty to marry? Am I at liberty to marry a 'White' girl? Am I at liberty to marry late Narayanan's daughter, the ambassador? Am I at liberty to divorce, or to abondon my spouse and children?
Am I at liberty to speak, argue, and preach my personal good? Am I at liberty to print to argue for my personal good?
Am I at liberty to travel without an identification from an employer? Am I liberty to travel without an identification from my father, or without disclosing my father?
Is the Kanchi seer at liberty to evade his family obligations (eg feeding his father) and live without his biological family? Am I at liberty to live without my biological family?
Am I at liberty to pay another individual? Am I at liberty to get paid by another individual? Am I at liberty to spend my money in the way that pleases me?
Am I at liberty to do business in Chicago or in Bangalore? Am I at liberty to business in chicago or in Bangalore without supervisors from IIT-IISc-TIFR? Am I at liberty to do business in Chicago or in Bangalore despite non-approval from the BJP, CPIM, and the Congress Party (or their public manifestations)?
Am I at liberty to investigate the action (s) allegedely taken by Indian Directors that adversely affects my personal income in the USA?
Am I at liberty to investigate the actions allegedly taken by College management, Heads, and Principals in Bangalore, that apparently reduces my income in chicago?
Is KKK (the Klan) at liberty to investigate the immigration policy pushed by the Indian leaders that may reduce the number of the Whites in Chicago to a bare minimum in the foreseeable future?
Is KKK (the Klan) at liberty to investigate the international mafia operating out of Bombay, Bangalore and Delhi that may forcibly impose Hindu culture (much like in Kolar and Pune) in the City of Chicago?
Is KKK (the Klan) at liberty to investigate the Benagalore judges, who may citing dominant Hindu moral, may support arranged marriages and caste system in the City of Chicago, thereby negating the doctrine of 'Fair Evaluation' and 'Fair Opportunity'?
Am I at liberty to take away my own life? Am I at liberty to take another person's life? Is one at liberty to abort a foetus, if the Law does not require the disclosure of the name of either parents?
(To be continued...)
SG
Bangalore,
Nov. 14,2005
