Freedom Beyond Flags: A Journey Into Individuality

Happy Independence Day!

Is this Independence Day going to be the same as every year? Going to school or college, raising the flag, eating sweets, dancing to a few patriotic songs, coming home and enjoying a day of vacation?

Or are we going to look inside and see if we are truly free?

We were colonized by the British for nearly 200 years, and before that, shaped by centuries of invasions and imperial rule—including over 330 years of Mughal presence, with their strongest grip lasting nearly 150 years. Our freedom was not handed to us—it was wrestled back, piece by piece, at great cost.

Let it not come at the cost of our individuality.

In classrooms and homes, in friendships and careers, we often chase borrowed dreams—expectations handed down, not chosen. We wear identities stitched by others, speak words that feel rehearsed, and follow paths that never felt like ours.

This blog is not a manifesto. It's a reflection. A gentle pause to ask: what does freedom mean to me? And have I ever really felt it?

Borrowed Dreams

From childhood, we're handed scripts—what to study, how to behave, who to become. These scripts are often written by well-meaning parents, teachers, and society itself. But somewhere along the way, we forget to ask: is this what I want?

We chase degrees, jobs, and relationships that look good on paper but feel hollow in our hearts. We perform roles that win approval but cost authenticity. And in doing so, we trade freedom for familiarity.

A lot of times, we don’t even know what we truly want—and that’s another reason we follow a pre-scripted life. It’s not always fear or pressure; sometimes it’s simply uncertainty. If the path you’re on feels right, honor it. But if it doesn’t, give yourself permission to explore. Try different things, listen to your inner stirrings, and allow yourself to discover what feels like your calling. Freedom begins not with certainty, but with curiosity.

Claiming our freedom begins with noticing the borrowed dreams we carry—and daring to rewrite them.

Quiet Rebellion

Freedom doesn't always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes, it begins in silence—in the moment we say no to a path that doesn't feel right, or yes to a truth we've long ignored.

Quiet rebellion is choosing authenticity over approval. It's the decision to speak up in a room that prefers silence, to walk away from a role that no longer fits, to honor the voice within even when it trembles.

This kind of rebellion isn't loud, but it's powerful. It's how we begin to reclaim our lives—not by burning bridges, but by building new ones that lead us home.

Every rebellion plants a seed. But unless we tend it with authorship, it never grows into a life that feels truly ours.

Reclaiming Your Story

We are not factory-made. We are handwoven.

The one-size-fits-all model of success—same degrees, same jobs, same timelines—flattens the richness of our stories.

Most students aim for 98+ in their board exams, get into the best college, and land the highest-paying job. When asked why they chose their degree—doctor, engineer, government officer—the answer is often: “Because it makes the most money.”

But think about it—people love watching movies. Would you watch if every story followed the same plot? Would you read novels if they all told the same tale?

Then why are we trying to follow that same boring path?

Freedom is reclaiming authorship. It's choosing the metaphors that fit, the pace that feels right, the genre that reflects our truth.

Even our gods remind us of this. Parshuram, Ram, Hanuman, Krishna—each lived a different life, played a different role, and taught us the same lesson: live your own dharma.

What Freedom Feels Like

Freedom isn't just the absence of control—it's the presence of choice. For students, it's choosing subjects that spark curiosity, not just those that score well. It's saying no to peer pressure and yes to what feels true.

Freedom is walking into a classroom and feeling safe to ask questions. It's being able to express your thoughts without fear of judgment. It's choosing friendships that nourish you, not just ones that look good on social media.

True freedom feels like breathing easy—like knowing you don't have to pretend. It's found in the small moments: skipping a class to rest when you're overwhelmed, journaling instead of scrolling, or simply saying no when something doesn't feel right.

Take a moment to sit with these questions. You don’t need to answer them all at once. Let them simmer. Maybe journal your thoughts, or simply notice what stirs within. This is your pause—your space to begin reclaiming your story.

If this reflection stirred something in you, consider sharing your thoughts with a friend or mentor—or even posting a line that resonated with you. Your voice might help someone else begin their own journey.

Before I close, let me share what freedom has felt like in my own life.

Like most teenagers, I often felt I had little control over my life. I longed to change that—and believed that studying well would lead to better income, and with it, more control. It felt logical: better marks, better college, better job, better life.

But life, as always, had its own plans. Not bad—just unexpected.

I chose commerce over science, moved out of my hometown to a metro city, left a job that suffocated me, and started a business when no one believed in it. When my work slowed down, I didn’t give up—I learned digital presence, built a website, and kept showing up.

Life is not simple. It’s not free from hard work or failure. But this life is mine. And that one truth helps me face every adversity and criticism.

And when everything felt stuck, I turned to writing. Not for indulgence—but because it felt true. Writing became my way of reclaiming clarity, peace, and voice. It didn’t fix everything, but it anchored me. It reminded me that I am not just surviving—I am creating.

This is the life I chose—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s true. And that truth gives me a kind of peace I’ve never felt before. It’s quiet, steady, and priceless.

It makes every pain worth it.

Reflective Questions

• What does freedom mean to me?

• Where in my life do I feel most free?

• Where do I feel most trapped?

• What borrowed dreams am I still carrying?

• What quiet rebellion is waiting to be heard?

• What story do I want to reclaim?

Closing Reflection

Freedom is not a destination—it's a relationship. One we build with ourselves, moment by moment, choice by choice. It's not about escaping responsibility, but about embracing it with clarity. It's not about being alone, but about being true—even in company.

As we celebrate Independence Day, may we remember that the most radical freedom is the one we claim quietly, in the way we live, love, and listen to ourselves.

And if we've never felt it fully, maybe today is the day we begin.

We often fear choosing freedom because we fear making mistakes. But the truth is, whether we follow our own path or someone else's, mistakes are inevitable. They are part of life. What matters is how we respond: learn from them, grow through them, and move on.

India's freedom isn’t marked by dates or dictated by power - it lives in its people. When citizens choose freedom for themselves—when they live with authenticity and courage—that is when India remains truly free.