To celebrate Women’s Day this year, I
thought of writing about something which is vital and constitutive for life,
development and gratification of men and women alike, but women more so,
considering the prejudiced society we come from.
Freedom .. a rather simple concept, but with
numerous interpretations and limitations.
For Malala
Yousafzai, it is a shot at education. For Nelson Mandela, it was self-respect and equality. For millions of
people it is the right to be with the people they love. For thousands of girl
children across India, it is simply an opportunity to live.
Fortunately for me, these were not the things
I had to strive for. But as an average girl from a conservative society, with unorthodox
dreams, I do not underestimate the significance of freedom.
For me, freedom is not just my right or a mere concept anymore. It
is personified.. My husband is freedom personified to me. I was born free. But
my greatest fear in life was, that someone or something, will put shackles on me. He has granted me
freedom from that fear.
He has given me wings to fly.. and at the
same time, equipped me with a parachute, in case I get tired or my wings break.
He has granted me the freedom to chase my dreams… also to waver when I am
unsure… and then to steady myself again.. or just dream a new dream and start
the chase all over again. He has given me the flexibility to go where I want
and do what I want, the immunity to screw up and the ability to fix it. He has
liberated me from the fetters of this judgmental society, the manacles of
female stereotypes and remodeled my obligations into choices.
He has allowed me the freedom to be me, which
is one of the greatest of its kind. And he has done so with unadulterated love,
support and consideration.. without any signs of indignation, cynicism or
disrespect.
This has earned him not only my love and
respect but also immense appreciation and admiration. I hope every woman has a
man like him in her life.. and every man
becomes a man like him.
