The Freedom That Is Not There
- Madhukar Dama
- Aug 15
- 8 min read
The Meaning of Freedom
Freedom is not just the absence of chains; it is the presence of choices that are real, fair, and possible for everyone. It is not a paper declaration or a speech once a year. Freedom means the dignity to live without fear, without unnecessary control, and without exploitation. It means that the path ahead is not blocked by invisible walls created by society’s prejudice or the government’s neglect. True freedom is not given; it is created daily in how we treat each other, how power is used, and how justice is served. Yet, for most of us, this freedom feels like a word written in the air — beautiful to hear, impossible to hold.
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The 120 Reasons Why I Don’t Feel the Freedom
1. Economic Pressures
1. I don’t feel any freedom because salaries do not match the rising cost of living.
2. I don’t feel any freedom because permanent jobs are being replaced by unstable contracts.
3. I don’t feel any freedom because GST and indirect taxes are heavy even on basic essentials.
4. I don’t feel any freedom because small businesses must pay bribes just to get licenses.
5. I don’t feel any freedom because fuel prices keep increasing without control.
6. I don’t feel any freedom because property valuation and stamp duty are unfair and inflated.
7. I don’t feel any freedom because toll collections are forced even when there are no proper alternative roads.
8. I don’t feel any freedom because income tax rules are complex even for small earners.
9. I don’t feel any freedom because there is no real pension security for private workers.
10. I don’t feel any freedom because seasonal unemployment still haunts farmers and daily workers.
2. Healthcare & Medical System
11. I don’t feel any freedom because private hospitals charge without transparent billing.
12. I don’t feel any freedom because government hospitals lack medicines, hygiene, and staff.
13. I don’t feel any freedom because unnecessary medical tests are pushed for profit.
14. I don’t feel any freedom because adulterated medicines are sold without strict action.
15. I don’t feel any freedom because ambulances arrive late and trauma care is missing in rural areas.
16. I don’t feel any freedom because mental health care is almost absent and too expensive.
17. I don’t feel any freedom because health insurance companies deny claims without reason.
18. I don’t feel any freedom because pharma lobbying keeps drug prices high.
19. I don’t feel any freedom because villages still lack proper primary health care.
20. I don’t feel any freedom because hospital scams run unchecked during emergencies.
3. Education & Skills
21. I don’t feel any freedom because schooling is over-commercialised with huge fees.
22. I don’t feel any freedom because the curriculum does not match today’s life or job skills.
23. I don’t feel any freedom because children are crushed by coaching centre pressure.
24. I don’t feel any freedom because admission is still affected by reservation politics.
25. I don’t feel any freedom because teachers are not properly trained in government schools.
26. I don’t feel any freedom because government exams are delayed or cancelled.
27. I don’t feel any freedom because fake degree scams destroy credibility.
28. I don’t feel any freedom because vocational training is outdated and irrelevant.
29. I don’t feel any freedom because rural schools have no career guidance.
30. I don’t feel any freedom because schools force expensive uniforms and books from select vendors.
4. Food & Agriculture
31. I don’t feel any freedom because food is adulterated from milk to spices.
32. I don’t feel any freedom because vegetables are full of harmful pesticides.
33. I don’t feel any freedom because middlemen inflate staple prices.
34. I don’t feel any freedom because certain traditional seeds are banned in favour of corporates.
35. I don’t feel any freedom because monoculture farming is pushed on farmers.
36. I don’t feel any freedom because grazing lands are lost to land acquisition.
37. I don’t feel any freedom because subsidies meant for farmers are stolen.
38. I don’t feel any freedom because cold storage mafia controls supply.
39. I don’t feel any freedom because fake organic labels cheat buyers.
40. I don’t feel any freedom because small dairy producers face over-regulation.
5. Water & Environment
41. I don’t feel any freedom because taps run dry despite paying water taxes.
42. I don’t feel any freedom because the water tanker mafia controls supply.
43. I don’t feel any freedom because rivers are polluted by industrial waste.
44. I don’t feel any freedom because sewage mixes with drinking water.
45. I don’t feel any freedom because groundwater is being depleted without control.
46. I don’t feel any freedom because over-concretisation causes urban flooding.
47. I don’t feel any freedom because industries pollute the air without punishment.
48. I don’t feel any freedom because waste segregation is never enforced.
49. I don’t feel any freedom because trees are cut for unnecessary road widening.
50. I don’t feel any freedom because lakes are filled with construction debris.
6. Housing & Urban Life
51. I don’t feel any freedom because real estate prices are sky-high due to speculation.
52. I don’t feel any freedom because unapproved building plans lead to demolitions.
53. I don’t feel any freedom because public transport is poor, forcing private vehicle use.
54. I don’t feel any freedom because footpaths are encroached without regulation.
55. I don’t feel any freedom because garbage piles up due to irregular collection.
56. I don’t feel any freedom because gated societies charge high maintenance without transparency.
57. I don’t feel any freedom because slums are used as political vote banks instead of being improved.
58. I don’t feel any freedom because street lights fail and create safety risks.
59. I don’t feel any freedom because infrastructure projects remain unfinished for years.
60. I don’t feel any freedom because construction and traffic create constant noise pollution.
7. Law, Order & Justice
61. I don’t feel any freedom because police corruption demands bribes.
62. I don’t feel any freedom because court cases drag on for decades.
63. I don’t feel any freedom because false cases are filed under political pressure.
64. I don’t feel any freedom because rich criminals get VIP treatment.
65. I don’t feel any freedom because there are too few women police staff.
66. I don’t feel any freedom because traffic fines are enforced selectively.
67. I don’t feel any freedom because encounters replace fair trials.
68. I don’t feel any freedom because witnesses have no protection.
69. I don’t feel any freedom because corruption cases rarely lead to convictions.
70. I don’t feel any freedom because cybercrime cases are handled poorly.
8. Digital & Privacy Issues
71. I don’t feel any freedom because Aadhaar is forcibly linked to everything.
72. I don’t feel any freedom because spam calls and data leaks are unchecked.
73. I don’t feel any freedom because the internet is shut down during protests.
74. I don’t feel any freedom because surveillance cameras track every move.
75. I don’t feel any freedom because rural internet is slow and unreliable.
76. I don’t feel any freedom because online fraud laws are weak.
77. I don’t feel any freedom because small merchants pay high charges for digital payments.
78. I don’t feel any freedom because government apps collect unnecessary personal data.
79. I don’t feel any freedom because social media misuse has no strong punishment.
80. I don’t feel any freedom because older citizens are excluded from the digital world.
9. Transport & Travel
81. I don’t feel any freedom because roads are full of potholes despite tolls.
82. I don’t feel any freedom because trains are rarely on time.
83. I don’t feel any freedom because buses and trains are overcrowded.
84. I don’t feel any freedom because RTO licenses require bribes.
85. I don’t feel any freedom because taxi and auto fares are unregulated.
86. I don’t feel any freedom because traffic police harass for petty fines.
87. I don’t feel any freedom because flights are cancelled without proper compensation.
88. I don’t feel any freedom because metros are overcrowded during rush hours.
89. I don’t feel any freedom because parking mafia charges extra.
90. I don’t feel any freedom because reckless driving is ignored.
10. Workplace & Labour
91. I don’t feel any freedom because minimum wages are not enforced.
92. I don’t feel any freedom because private companies exploit with long hours.
93. I don’t feel any freedom because unorganised workers get no maternity or paternity benefits.
94. I don’t feel any freedom because contracts bind workers like bonded labour.
95. I don’t feel any freedom because salaries are delayed.
96. I don’t feel any freedom because whistleblowers have no job protection.
97. I don’t feel any freedom because harassment at workplaces goes unchecked.
98. I don’t feel any freedom because contract labourers are denied PF and ESI.
99. I don’t feel any freedom because gig workers have no grievance system.
100. I don’t feel any freedom because factory workers face unsafe conditions.
11. Social Issues Created by Society
101. I don’t feel any freedom because caste discrimination is still alive.
102. I don’t feel any freedom because dowry demands continue in new forms.
103. I don’t feel any freedom because moral policing controls personal life.
104. I don’t feel any freedom because outdated traditions are forced.
105. I don’t feel any freedom because people are shamed for their appearance.
106. I don’t feel any freedom because neighbours compete in toxic ways.
107. I don’t feel any freedom because divorce and single parenthood are stigmatised.
108. I don’t feel any freedom because gender bias still rules inheritance.
109. I don’t feel any freedom because English fluency is seen as a measure of worth.
110. I don’t feel any freedom because certain jobs are looked down upon.
12. Political & Governance Failures
111. I don’t feel any freedom because election freebies replace real development.
112. I don’t feel any freedom because every civic issue is politicised.
113. I don’t feel any freedom because manifestos have no legal accountability.
114. I don’t feel any freedom because corruption in tenders is protected.
115. I don’t feel any freedom because illegal sand mining is backed by politicians.
116. I don’t feel any freedom because leaders incite communal tensions.
117. I don’t feel any freedom because RTI requests are delayed without reason.
118. I don’t see any freedom as unscientific policies are created without consulting experts from all fields.
119. I don’t feel any freedom because power cuts happen despite surplus generation claims.
120. I don’t feel any freedom because there is no punishment for failed public projects.
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Epilogue – The Nature of Freedom
Freedom is never complete. It is never reached once and kept forever. It is a living thing, fragile and restless. Every day, it grows or it shrinks, depending on what we do and what we allow. Governments can give laws, but they cannot give freedom in our hearts unless society removes the walls it builds inside our minds. Freedom is not a prize we win; it is a process we choose, again and again. In truth, the only real freedom we ever get is the freedom to choose more freedom, as much as we are willing to demand and defend.
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Madhukar
