Freedom of Expression – A Democratic Lifeline
Speaking on the foundation of freedom of expression, one must begin by acknowledging that human beings are thinking beings. The ability to express one’s thoughts and ideas without fear or shame is fundamental to living with dignity. This is the essence of freedom of expression – the heartbeat of any democratic society.
Freedom of expression is the right of an individual to articulate their ideas, beliefs, opinions, religious views, and political stances without fear, doubt, or guilt. This right can be exercised through speech, writing, art, music, public speaking, and social media, among others.
Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of speech and expression. However, this right is not absolute. To ensure national security, public order, decency, morality, and to prevent contempt of court, hate speech, or communal discord, reasonable restrictions are imposed by law.
Where there is no freedom, thought becomes futile and social justice collapses.
Freedom of expression is essential to the very foundation of democracy. It creates space for political criticism, public discourse, and personal growth. In today’s world, social media serves as the most powerful platform for expression, making the exercise of this freedom more accessible than ever before.
However, a significant section of the public still does not utilize this freedom for constructive or meaningful purposes. At the same time, increasing censorship, arbitrary cyber laws, online trolling, and pressure-group attacks have emerged as serious threats to freedom of expression.
From the era of the Renaissance to the modern age, the transformative leaders and thinkers who shaped the world we live in today — achieved it through their unwavering commitment to expression and self-awareness.
Figures like Buddha, Gandhi, Tagore, Ambedkar, Kalidasa, and Swami Vivekananda stand as shining examples of the power of expressive freedom.
In this context, it is our responsibility to exercise this freedom with a sense of accountability. No opinion should encroach upon the rights and dignity of another. Freedom must walk hand in hand with discipline and ethics.
Freedom of expression is not just a right — it is the lifeblood of human intellectual and creative evolution. Safeguarding it is not only our constitutional right but also our moral obligation to the land we belong to.
HRPM – Human Rights | Social Science | Media Platform
Johnson Pulluthi
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