Creative Handcuff

"Where the mind is without fear and head is held high,
Where knowledge is free,
Where the world has not been broken up, into fragments,
by narrow domestic walls
Where words come out, from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms, towards perfection
Where the clear stream of new reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand, of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
into ever widening, thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my father
Let my country awake"

Rabindranath Tagore

Ever Since I was 5, I have been an enthusiastic movie buff. I am an Indian, hence this trait as I call it, is completely natural and is something that links everybody in this multi cultural nation.

Ever Since I was 9, I have been following blogs, articles of independent thinkers, whose ideas have greatly shaped the way I see the world. I have read varied views, from revolutionary, to diplomatic and from violence to peace, and they have helped me big time.

The purpose of this pre- soft drama is to show you how these instruments of mass multimedia have played an integral role in what I am now.

I, myself am an occasional blogger, blogging stuff whenever I get time. I write poems, articles so that people can read, like and share them. I like to write, and I make sure everybody knows about it.

While I enjoy each comment that praises me and my views, I am even more thankful to people who criticize and suggest improvements, which make me a better blogger, and perhaps a person with an evolving brain.

I truly respect each piece of criticism, though I might not show it, or be a bit less receptive in the beginning, I accept it in the long run, because I know I am helping myself and being a good citizen and respecting fundamental rights of people. And I am sure that all artists and creative people also do the same.

But today, I can feel a shift to a different ecosystem altogether. The above mentioned respect is still existent, but people criticizing and suggesting changes have undertaken a different approach in not only suggesting changes, rather limiting our creativity to a whole new level.

I believe that the respect of all artists is backfiring. We can see pointless resistance to issues pertaining to creativity, whose base is virtually not even present. I mean, due to such issues why are people being criticized for one project they have put their hearts and souls into. Hard-work, dedication and expertise, all are very rarely found, and once they are, people generally respect them, not kill the people who possess the same.

I read such instances and threats, perhaps daily in newspapers. I feel resentful, that people are getting these threats, but at the same time am thankful, that I have kept mum and probably, alive.

As I think about this issue, I ask myself, "Can I even condemn these threats on media?". I am sorry but this is the reality. You would not believe how my hands are shivering. I can't help it, I have to respect the critics, but I guess not many people know that the constitution has given me right to express my views, fearlessly and boldly, and I will not succumb to any threat, penalty or even predators after my life.

Journalism WAS one of my career alternatives. But, I don't really feel like thinking about it anymore, you know, death and stuff.

The point I am trying to put across is that, people who are trying to help us, gain knowledge, raise issues that are important for us in our society, bring a change everyone is long awaiting. Changes are tough, undoubtedly, and even worse for certain sections. But that is the true spirit of being a family. I have a different opinion, you have a different one, still we are Indians and we should be one, happy, big, fat family, and better each other. NOT kill.

I am sure this will bring raised eyebrows, and I am even more confident that this is not my best work to voice my opinion. But please, just try to decipher the intentions before judging me.

इस कलम की वजह से जब तक हमारे गले पर तलवार लटकती रहेगी, तब तक उन लोगों की जीत होगी जिन्होनें अभी तक सिर्फ़ भेड़ियों के सहारे ताकत देखी है