Where is my Freedom?

What is freedom? What does it mean to be free?

In 1947, our country, India, acquired freedom from the British Raj. Nearly 68 years have passed. Are we really free??

Think about it. You go to watch a movie. Maybe with your girlfriend. Maybe with your wife. Maybe with your kids, your entire family. Or maybe with friends?

Anyways. You land up at one of those fancy Multiplexes. Of course. How many movie theaters are still running in your city? The theaters are dinosaurs. They are as good as extinct. So do you really have a choice but go to a Multiplex?

Anyways. You bought the tickets. You landed up shelling out anywhere from Rs 150 to Rs 350 or maybe even more depending on the movie and the timing...

Then you proceed to the security counter. They check your tickets. That's why they are there, right? Then they proceed to check your bags. You kindly oblige. Its a question of your security. But wait. You are carrying some sweets given by your relatives whom you were visiting before coming to the movie. Or your wife is carrying some foodstuff you bought from the market before coming here. Or one of your family members has a medical condition that requires you carry some eatables for emergencies.

No matter whatever your reasons. Out it comes...

The security guards are not really concerned about bombs or guns or harmful stuff. No no. They are concerned about you carrying in food stuff. You are kindly asked to deposit your foodstuff with them. "Kindly asked" translated to them simply picking the stuff out of your bag and unceremoniously dumping it at their counter.

If you protest they will point out that its as per their rules. Maybe its even printed on your tickets in font small enough to require a fucking microscope to read. "Its the Management's Orders" they say. You have a very simple choice. Either you keep your foodstuff here and enjoy the movie. Or out you go. Irrespective of the fact that you shelled out a whopping 250 bucks per head for the damn movie. If you wish to watch the movie you have to play by their rules.

You have already spent your money. What choice do you have?

In you go. You flash your tickets and sit down and bear with the damn commercials for nearly 10 minutes. Finally the commercials end. And the movie is about to begin. And as you stand up like everyone else, while they play the national anthem, you mull over whether you are really free???

During interval, you step out. Your girlfriend would like to munch some popcorn. Or your wife would like some cold drinks. Or your family member - the one with the medical condition - requires to eat something. So you head to those fancy food counters. You will shell out 150-250 for a tub of popcorn, or 100-200 for a glass of aerated flavoured sugar water they call cold-drinks. Or 100 - 200 for a couple of samosas. Maybe 150-250 for a simple sandwich... And if you are still thinking straight, you will wonder again, whether you are really free?

Is it freedom, when you have no say in what you wish to eat? Is it freedom when you are denied the fundamental right to carry food - certainly a non-security-threat item - into the movie hall? Is it freedom when, thus stripped off of the choice to carry your own food, you are forced to buy food at rates nearly 5 to 20 times what they would cost you outside for the same food items? Is it really freedom when you have to forego your fundamental rights in this way, even after paying so exorbitantly for mere entertainment?

But wait. You are still free right? You still have the freedom to make a choice. You can choose not to go... You mull over this. Maybe it sounds all wacky. Or maybe it makes perfect sense to you... Whatever the case. The next time you, or your loved ones pine for some entertainment, off you go, relinquishing your freedom to watch a movie and be entertained. You are still free to make a choice. And you chose entertainment over freedom... Isn't freedom a wonderful thing?