Today, as our nation celebrates Independence Day, the tricolour will flutter proudly across every corner of the country. We will sing the National Anthem, remember the sacrifices of our Freedom Fighters and speak of the priceless gift of Freedom.
But amid the celebrations, there is a question that deserves to be asked – What does Freedom mean to the ordinary citizen? To me, Freedom is not confined to a date on the calendar or a flag hoisted once a year. Freedom must be experienced every moment, every single day.
Freedom to me is when a child in the remotest village of Kodagu receives quality education in a government school.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela
Freedom to me is when a mother does not fear for a life because the nearest health center lacks doctors or emergency care.
Freedom to me is when people can travel on safe roads throughout the year, not roads that disappear with every monsoon.
Freedom to me is when drinking water, electricity and basic infrastructure are not privileges but a basic right to infrastructure.
Freedom to me is when a woman can walk fearlessly on the streets alone, at every hour without looking over her shoulder or fearing for her safety.
Freedom to me is when a girl can dream without being told that her dreams are too big, too ambitious or unsuitable for her.
Unless a human has the talents to make something of themselves, freedom is an irksome burden. – Eric Hoffer
Freedom to me is when a poor family can enter a government hospital with hope, not fear that they will be turned away because they cannot afford treatment.
Freedom to me is when farmers can work in their land with dignity and receive a fair return for their labour.
Freedom to me is when young people can find meaningful opportunities in their homeland instead of being forced to leave in search of a future.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. – Nelson Mandela
Freedom to me is when elderly can live with dignity and security without feeling forgotten by society.
Freedom to me is when a person can speak the truth, question authorities and raise their voice against injustice without fear.
After all Gandhi pleaded for freedom of speech, a free press and pure justice, independence of judiciary and complete civil liberty; he also included right to legal counsel and defence as part of civil rights. He believed in economic and spiritual freedoms.
Freedom to me is when corruption does not decide who gets service, an opportunity or justice.
Freedom to me is when our government schools have the infrastructure our children deserve, and our public health centres have the doctors, medicines and facilities people depend upon.
And for Kodagu freedom is also the right to development without losing the land, forests, rivers and culture that make this place unique.
As we celebrate our nation’s progress, Kodagu continues to wait for many of these basic necessities. Ironically when people ask for better roads, better government schools, well-equipped Hospitals and reliable public services, discussions often revolve on innocuous projects such as glass Bridges, railway lines destroying the forest and other proposals that raise genuine concerns about Kodagu’s fragile environment.
Development should never become a race for headlines. It should become a promise fulfilled for ordinary citizens. Kodagu is not asking for extravagance. It is asking for dignity and a secure identity. The Nation derives it’s strength from the slogan – UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
This land has given India fearless soldiers, hardworking farmers, life-giving rivers and forests that breathe for generations beyond our own. Yet, the people who protect this land continue to wait for the basics that every citizen of an independent nation deserves.
On this Independence day, let us not reduce patriotism to speeches and celebrations. The greatest tribute we can offer our freedom fighters is to build an India where no citizen feels forgotten. Let us celebrate not only the freedom we inherited, but also the responsibility we carry.
Because the true measure of Independence is not how loudly we shout “Jai Hind”…..it is whether every citizen can say, with pride and without hesitation “my country has not forgotten me”. Only then will Independence Day be more than a celebration. So today, as we salute our national flag, let us also salute the values it represents – justice, equality and responsibility. True Independence will be realised only when every citizen of Kodagu can proudly say “my freedom is reflected not only in the flag above me, but in the quality of life around me”. That will be the greatest tribute we can offer to those who gave us freedom.
Independence is not simply freedom from foreign rule. It is freedom from fear, deprivation, injustice and neglect. Also, our freedom requires us to protect and retain our identity by retaining the inherited ancestral lands and practicing our customs and traditions so that future generations, do the same.
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A thoughtful article and a good way of looking at what freedom really means in everyday life.
I liked that it goes beyond the usual Independence Day discussion and talks about education, healthcare, farmers, opportunities and protecting Kodagu’s environment and culture. These are things that affect ordinary people directly.
Thank you, CLN, and the author Kodandera Mamatha Subbaiah for bringing this out at the right time, and thanks to the author for sharing such a simple and relevant perspective. Sometimes it is good to pause and think about what freedom actually means in our daily lives.
This one really made me pause.
I liked the simple thought that freedom is also about a child getting a good education, a family having access to healthcare, a farmer getting a fair return for his hard work, and Kodagu growing without losing its forests, rivers and identity.
Reading this brought back memories of my school days in Madikeri. Those hills, roads and familiar surroundings were just a part of everyday life for us back then. We probably never stopped to think how lucky we were to grow up in a place like that. It is only years later that you realize how precious those simple memories are.
Thank you, CLN, for such a timely Independence Day article, and to the author for putting these thoughts together so beautifully. It is a good reminder that freedom is not just about the flag we celebrate, but also about the kind of life we create and the place we leave for those who come after us.
A very timely and thought-provoking reflection on what Independence truly means. True freedom means having access to education, healthcare, justice, dignity, safety and equal opportunities, while being able to speak, question and participate without fear.
Independence gave us the right to govern ourselves, but it also placed upon us the responsibility to build a society where no one is left behind. The real tribute to our freedom fighters is not just remembering their sacrifices, but ensuring that the freedom they fought for each and every citizen. When dignity replaces deprivation, justice replaces fear, and opportunity is available to all, the spirit of Independence becomes truly meaningful.
Happy Independence day to all.
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The “secular” existence, carefully curated and preserved by our ancestors, is slowly and visibly disintegrating across the land – Kodagu is no exception. Kodavamme thrived because of the integrated and secular leadership that Kodavas provided.
In all our festivals and celebrations, all Kodava Bhashikas were carefully integrated into every aspect of our celebrations. As an example, take the Bodenamme at Chembebeloor – conducted with panache by the elders of the community from time immemorial.
As an extension to Ms Mamatha Subbaiah’s heartfelt article, we should not cast aside the Unity in Diversity philosophy. There will always be elements who provoke and sow seeds of disharmony. These elements should be firmly brought under control and discarded. The future of Kodagu and the Kodava identity depend on our secular existence with mutual respect and communal harmony.
Very moving! The silent national anthem. Brings tears to one’s eyes.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcDAD7ZsIPI/
Celebrating Independence with the Right Colours….
And between the Sky and the Mountains, a simple reminder—
Freedom is not merely something we inherit;
it is something we must continue to nurture.
Happy Independence Day. IN
Shot in Coorg, Karnataka, August 2026
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There is a thought that most things last for three generations: the first builds, the second preserves, and the third takes them for granted.
Perhaps this applies to Indian Independence too.
That is where the danger lies.
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Well said, Mamatha.
“My country has not forgotten me”.
“My freedom is reflected not only in the flag above me, but in the quality of life around me”.