I want to write about freedom today. J Krishnamurty has spoken about it. So has many others – in the stoic philosophy or in the context of management lesson. Many questions still remain – such as freedom of what, freedom from what, why freedom and how freedom.

J Krishnamurty speaks of freedom as a lack of conditioning. जो अनुभवी है, वो ग़ुलाम है। A child is innovative. We are experienced. A child’s response is not limited by consequences – or fear of consequences or potential consequences of his act. He has not read ‘7 habits of success’ and does not know ‘keeping the end in mind’. He does not therefore, moderate his response or has the मजबूरी of sugar-coating it, or using diplomatic language.

मजबूरी is lack of freedom. Is it also a lack of intelligence ? A person has an opinion, but he does not speak it. He cannot speak it. He has ‘learnt’ that views of those in authority are not to be countered publically. In a management book he has read that if you disagree with your boss (meaning any authority figure), you can go separately to him or her and express your views – but not contradict publically.

The stoic philosophy propagates being unaffected. On explaining your point of view or situation where your view is misunderstood – it says that one can try to put across his point of view in detail once to enable the other person to understand it; if he still does not understand – one need not be affected by it. Not getting affected is an attractive trait. It is also intelligent.

Not expressing view – is that intelligent ? It is certainly lack of freedom. Lack of freedom has fear. And fear and intelligence cannot go together. At an individual level – ‘छोड़ो’ is a very attractive trait. Wise and experienced mention the advantages of restraint. It avoids confrontation. Does an individual restraint and lack of freedom translate to societal restraint and lack of freedom ? And is that a risk ?

Let us come back to the original questions. Freedom of what – freedom of thought, speech and action. Freedom from what – freedom from own’s conditioning (past), freedom from fear (future). Why freedom – because it is intelligent to be free. How freedom – the first step may be to realise its value and to yearn for it.