The March towards Independence

By Anupreeya Goswami

(Image source: odishabytes.com)

We begin with cheering the very spirit of Independence with celebrating the 7th decade of the long drawn Great Indian Freedom Struggle this 2020. Our country has gracefully held its Independence, sovereignty and Republican status over the years making it much a part of the country's integrity. The values from Indian Independence still stand tall for the country, and have not rooted out even in the face of dire circumstances.

The context of freedom and the overall understanding has altered in the recent years and walked way beyond what freedom meant 7 decades back. The freedom struggle has nevertheless, not left the Indian blood. In honour of the smaller freedom struggles the countrymen fought for after The Great Indian Independence- this article sheds light to some of the significant fights India won after 1947.

1. On 6th September, 2018 the country was taken by a storm by one of the most historic events of time. After years of criminalization of same sex relationships claiming them to be "unnatural" in legal terms with a 10year imprisonment for same-gender sex, the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community of India finally found expression and success. After years of pride rallies, protest marches and petitioning, the infamous article 377 was striked off and the community was finally given ​freedom to express and live​. After a long-drawn freedom struggles of their own, India today grants-

•Gender Identity- Rights for transgenders to change and live their sexual orientation with legal changes.

•Same-sex marriages

• Protection against Discrimination

•Adoption by single LGBTQ+ person •Legalization of consensual gay sex

2. The next success struggle stood for the women in the Muslim community when in 19 September, 2019 the Indian constitution rendered the Islamic practise of Triple Talaq as unconstitutional and illegal, in light of the Shayara Bano case. The women of the community took to 'equality' as the cue when the state initially chose to not intervene into Islamic laws. The abolition of the practise went a huge way in protection of muslim women against desertification and granted them the much needed ​freedom from unfair atrocities and gender injustice. ​Jail for 3 years was attached to any breach of the rule. With support from the BMMA (Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan) the tremendous strength of the women uprooted the very age-old practise bringing a successful end to their struggle for freedom.

3. Another important freedom struggle of the recent decades has been securing women of the country, amidst the violence and atrocities targeted at them. In light of this, struggles of women at workplaces have been a re-occurring topic for debates, protests and endless outcry. Another huge freedom struggle won was when in 2013, The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act was passed by the Indian Government which granted working women the very​ freedom from harrasment and sexual predation. ​This significantly secured workplaces for women and gave them the much needed free air to practise the occupation of their choice without potential threats to integrity and abuse.

4. Freedom of women​ is a very significant rising peak when we discuss freedom in present day context. Along with the act to protect women of the country from sexual predators, the occurings of the recent years have given way for feminism movements across the land, seeking to elevate women from the second-class status of the patriarchal societies of the 20th century to the empowered women of today- giving them the right to educate, voice their opinions and enter/participate in the world outside the four walls.This freedom struggle lay much wider that legal work as the mindset of India today has been changing too. Feminism is understood and respected and talked about. The women of today are walking towards their individual independence too, as we count on and celebrate the years of the country's independence.

5. Freedom from stigma​ is another brave march that India takes today. The youth of today are educating well and absorbing modern ideas- debating and questioning. In contexts of the world we live in today, the stress and independent nature of life has in some ways affected many with mental illnesses. The recent occurings- with a famous film-star or multiple students under the shackles of depression and suicidal ideas has let the country to see beyond the stigmas attached to mental illnesses-being mad or possessed. Mental illness is talked about, treated and recognised today. We have started to offer ears and words to soothe people suffering for illnesses as such. Modern India uses knowledge over preconceptions and speaks for the right.

The ride to independence does not end here. The Indian youth is a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm. Most of the tiny victories we celebrate as a nation does not involve the law or entail the government into it. These tiny struggles are victory to all those who have kept their minds and hearts open and have started to show acceptance and love; those who hold this beautiful nation of ours together with their very hands. Indian Independence today also celebrates our independence from struggles, stigmas, stereotypes and marches forward cheering the very essence of a free nation.

Jai Hind.