In this week’s episode of the Subhash Chandra Show held at the Royal Global University, Guwahati, Assam, Shri Subhash Chandra interacts with over 600 students on the subject ‘What is the real meaning of Freedom?’
Starting the discussion by asking if ‘people of India have got true freedom?’ and listening to the various views from the audience, Subhashji offers his opinion, “Being free from slavery is what the dictionary says but there is are new definitions of slavery too. Not being able to select something because of any reason either economic or social or another and, If you have too much, too many choices and tools yet you are not able to decide, it also constitutes as slavery,” he says. Freedom is also related to socio-political limitations and economic restrictions that lead to the inability to make a selection without strings attached. He elaborates that the lack of decision making or not able to choose or select irrespective of the circumstances also indicates lack of freedom.
He adds that while our constitution allows for all the freedom possible, in reality the people of the nation are not free in the true sense.
The first guest on the show is Shri Ranjan Kumar Baruah who despite objections from his parents chose up a less mainstream career and later went on to receive the National Youth Award and today is a motivational speaker. He has counselled over 40,000 young people so far.
Sharing his inspirational story, he answers the questions of students about the freedom of selecting the right career and the fear of ‘What will the world say?’. He says, “You decide your own happiness model. What can the world say if you are happy? However make sure you do things ethically and with integrity.”
Subhashji says, “Each of has some talent or the other. It needs to be recognised. And who will do this? One has to do it himself.”
The second guest is cange-maker smt. Lakhimi Baruah, founder Konoklota Women Urban Cooperative Bank, and a believer in financial empowerment of women. Lakhimi ji worked in a bank, which made her aware of how deprived and illiterate women barely manage to benefit from banking services. The bank has helped many women save their hard-earned money, which would otherwise be misused by family members and alcoholic husbands. As these women become regular visitors to the bank, they often share their personal issues with the employees.
Discussing her journey, she shares that while over 700 women have benefitted from her efforts the reserve bank does not allow opening branches beyond 3 districts. Subhashji offers to support by assuring her that the right authorities and people will be spoken to and he will try his best to help her.
A student asks Subhashji about how having lower expectations is related to having more freedom but won’t that impede success? Another student relates this to taking parents advice on what to do in life versus what you may feel is right. Subahshji says, “Everyone agrees that minimum desires will attract minimum anger and minimum displeasure but that might stop your economic progress. At the same time, only if we know where to stop and where to go and where not to go will give you the power to discuss with yourself, look into yourself.”
In conclusion Subhashji says to the students that a negative person can never really enjoy the essence of freedom and urges them to be positive.
This episode originally aired on February 17, 2018.
