Understanding Freedom

chillibreeze writer — M R Sampath

Freedom is the most elusive and most misunderstood term or can we say the most versatile term to manipulate to suit ones own interpretation of what he or she would like it to mean; often times thrusted on you what others feel is your freedom

The other day we were motoring down one of the highways in the US and my cousin wanted the side window to be opened. It was a cold winter day and the inside temperature had been set at warm and my son who was driving the van was a bit surprised as to the reason for my cousin’s queer request. It transpired that he wanted to dispose off the paper cup from which he had been sipping his tea and by habit back at home town in India, he wanted to throw it out of the window. My son an immigrant for over twenty years was even more astonished as how one can even entertain such an idea of littering on the highway. My son warned him that it would cost him a fine/prosecution if he did so. What is freedom to behave in certain ways in certain quarters is taboo in a different environment. Bad habits cause indiscrete actions that the individual thinks and feels justified.

When you open the News paper or switch on your TV, the reporting is nothing but violence, atrocities committed on women, terrorist attacks, a murder, a fraud or rigging of ballot boxes, racial and religion related disturbances etc. etc- all these are attacks on freedom and security. The News channels vie with each other to ‘scoop’ and sensationalize with high-tech coverage, their own interpretation and extrapolation of the news items, sometimes causing slanderous implications on innocent individuals unmindful of their feelings, privacy and reputation –the casualty is ‘private freedom’ in the face of unethical commercial interests masquerading as ‘freedom of press’

Extending this to more serious realities, it is not uncommon to come across public servants who believe that it is their birth right to demand bribes. We have instances of public figures like ministers and MPs who believe that freedom to (mis)use public funds for personal gains is one of the perks that goes with success in the election.

“I have after all spent (invested) huge money in buying the votes and I should get the return on my investment” – like any other sound business policy that cannot be faulted; also the quantum of ‘return on investment’ is a measure of how much ‘liberties’ he takes to bend/flout the instruments of good administration. Even such criminal behaviour is ‘justified’ as freedom in their own interpretation.

In all the above illustrations the ‘freedom’ exercised is unbridled, without discipline and responsibility - the two ingredients that need to be supplemented to get its true meaning.

To quote Charles Kingsley

“There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought”

The connotation and relevance to ‘what he ought’ rests on his discipline and responsibility to his fellow beings and environment when exercising his personal freedom. This relationship of relevance can be extended to the responsibilities of a group of people to another group or one society to another or one nation to another so on and so forth

The Basic Instinct to Survive

Why would not people exercise their freedom with discipline and responsibility? If such a trait were to be inherent in the human beings all those complex rules and regulations, administration, arbitrations and punishments required to enforce ‘the true freedom’ would not be necessary. But the very purpose and essence of life’s goal is driven by its basic selfish instinct of freedom to survive at any cost. The extended scope includes all those factors that support its wellbeing and comforts and any threat to this status, to be resisted.

Tracing back to the evolution of all species including humans, it is the jungle law-‘might makes right’ -as distinct from ‘survival of the fittest’ that is related to the environmental aspect of survival- has remained the single factor that determined the right to live, the fundamental freedom that is essential for other freedoms to be enjoyed. The right to live is an instinctive behavioral character of all living beings to protect their existence as living beings and any threat to this status they defied and strived to destroy such a status of the adversary that posed the threat or to shy away from threat, in either case the principal aim is to remain alive.

The law of nature that encouraged survival of all was more realistic and fool proof that enabled the different species to survive in coexistence despite the fact that stronger and mightier species had the capability to wipe out the more meek ones and therefore deny their rights to live. The animal kingdom, in general, had a code not to kill unless for food or on threat to life from adversary; otherwise, they never hunted; they lived in harmony. The distribution of different species in different geographic locations and their population ratios also found the right balance for the food chain to operate effectively without break or void in the continuity of these species, except on odd occasions of natural calamities – even those, the nature devised to put on course any imbalances that might have occurred from time to time. The Alfa males of the different colonies of the relevant species that dominated over the rest marked their boundaries and fought only when trespassed.

Vertical Hierarchical Relationship

Julian Jaynes in his book “The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of Bicameral Mind” explores why the master – slave relationship like in the animal kingdom prevailed in the behaviour of early man in the pre domestication era. These men obeyed the commands of their hierarchal chiefs without questioning and continued to carry out the tasks as intended by the relevant chief or higher authority with awe and reverence even in their absence. These early human beings, he believes, had not developed their mental faculties to be their conscious self. He refers to the two parts of the brain the left one that retained information on past experience in its memory folds and conveyed these as inner voices to other part- the right one, that just heeded to and obeyed as directed. This state of mental disposition, he refers to as ‘bicameral’ and visualizes absence of a buffer zone or mind space in between the two parts of the brain to reflect on and reason out before obeying; such mentality resulted in the individual interpreting hallucinated voices from within conveyed from time to time, as the live commands of intimidating hierarchical patriarchs or gods.

Rudyard Kipling poetizes the wisdom of such a relationship in the context of the animal kingdom in his ‘The Law of the Jungle’- quote concluding lines

“In all that the Law leaveth open, the word of your Head Wolf is Law.
Now these are the Laws of the Jungle, and many and mighty are they;
But the head and the hoof of the Law and the haunch and the hump is -- Obey!”

Such relationship assured protection, security and stability with a higher degree of survival chances than if they were to be on their own; also helped control of men in an expanding herding and hunting community.

Relationship of Living beings to Nature

Nature provided all living things the ability to perceive and experience the five senses through their five sensory organs – Body, Mouth (tongue) Eyes, Nose, Ear, i.e. senses of feel or touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing – the tools to facilitate not only to survive but also appreciate and enjoy the nature classically composed of the five elements Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Aether; secondly to fulfill her own agenda of perpetuation and proliferation of the flora and fauna of this blessed mother Earth.

It is a case of Nature giving herself a chance to assess and appreciate her own self – i.e. the flora and fauna that include human beings created by and from Nature, unlike other non- living things (also of Nature), have the capability to experience the impact and influence of Natures’ components. Nature provided them the five senses to be judiciously employed primarily for survival; also to enjoy and benefit. The animals employ their five senses, by and large, in need based functions for their survival, E.g. -smelling the scent to escape / prey on or get drawn to a mate; listening to different calls to distinguish either friendly or otherwise, sensation of hunger etc. They adapted to nature and the surroundings with no control over it. Their sensory indulgence was limited to whatever Nature permitted; generally satisfied with the basic needs for survival.

The superior intellect, intelligence and creativity identified with mind, referred to as the Sixth Sense by Hindu and Buddhist literature, set man apart from the animals. Man with his intelligence and creativity strived to make his life more comfortable. Starting from use of fire, making of tools, improvised clothes out of hides of animals and barks/ leaves and domesticating animals to work for him during the evolution times to the current modern day conveniences, he has been able to continuously add and improve on every aspects of his life - protection, comfort, convenience, pleasure etc., extending further the scope of the term survival. Access to such exotic benefits is still not affordable by all. The temptation and greed to enjoy such living led the man to employ any means to acquire wealth and power to the vulgar extent of undermining even the legitimate and basic needs of his own brethren.

Once again the law of the jungle ‘might makes right’ is in action with certain changes to the domain of ‘might’ shifting from mere ‘physical forces’ to ‘the power of money and power of position’ that can command different coercive methods including physical forces.

Freedom through Evolving Civilization

Reasoning and experience taught that such usurpations by some and denial to the rest only fomented hatred and enmity that caused to destroy the very fabric of human race.

This ability to think and analyze, the capability to distinguish between good and bad; the capacity to foresee the negative consequences of competing for ‘survival’ under the dynamics of its enlarged scope, facilitated and empowered the more enlightened civilizations, in the interest of the common good, to set rules and regulations and punishments thereto for violations to condition the ‘erring’ individuals to curb their negative or self centred instincts at the expense of their fellow beings. There evolved ethics and codes to regulate or provide safe guards against the individual’s pursuit infringing in to the rights of others to promote cooperation and coexistence. Exploitation and denial of liberties to the weak was aimed to be mitigated.

As these civilizations evolved through time to form organized kingdoms or different nations as in modern times, each framed its own constitutions that defined the liberties and freedom of its citizens that can be enjoyed subject to provisions of the constitutional and criminal and civil laws. The judiciary and executive were also simultaneously evolved to enforce compliance and give justice when trespassed, accepting the fact that humans are vulnerable to the greed aspect of their character.

It will be interesting to observe the opinions of two different thinkers of more than a century apart, as to the role of law on liberty

“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual”. Thomas Jefferson

“We cannot have the freedom of each, flounder on the unlimited freedom of all”

Professor Friedrich A. Hayek

Professor Hayek advocates “common abstract rules" that have to be obeyed enforced by the Government; needed to "preclude arbitrary or discriminatory coercion by or of other people"

Thomas Jefferson opts for ‘the will of the people’ over ‘enforcement by law’ in his preferences for successful prevalence of liberty, whereas Prof.Hayek prescribes obedience to common abstract rules “however burdensome they may still feel” to maximize liberty. It is a matter of quality of people- at what stages of development or enlightenment they are in their awareness to the requirements of true freedom /liberty to all - that would decide the degree of enforcement of law to provide liberty and freedom to all. As the level of enlightenment increases the enforcement efforts would tend to be minimal.

It can be said that such control systems have definitely contributed to culturing and conditioning of a large majority of the human beings. The ethics and moral values handed down by successive civilizations through religion and family systems have largely influenced the members of the society to comply with basic morals that encouraged coexistence, mutual trust and cooperation, hospitality, charity and kindness – all those elements that go to promote freedom and survival of all who are born including sacrificing one’s life fighting for the freedom and lives of the brethren when the community as a whole faces such threat.

The bottom line principle is to discipline oneself to accept certain restrictions in his/her behaviour and actions in order to experience and enjoy a freedom that is meaningful;- restrictions that are governed by the dynamics of interference with the rights and freedom of others. Such restrictions would include any indulgence in disturbance to environment and nature as a w hole – the flora and the fauna; as such interference would affect the wellbeing of all living things.

Differential Social Status and Slavery

Ironically, great civilizations have advocated and supported slavery and the number of slaves one possessed in his household became a status symbol for wealth equated with the cattle and landed possessions It was customary for conquering army to commit the vanquished to slavery. Romans had freely (ironically) employed slaves and the institutionalized able bodied slaves have been used in combats unto death as sport in their amphitheatres. The Asians Sumerians, Egyptians, Africans, Europeans and pre-Columbian Americas have all practiced slavery. The Egyptians employed slaves to build their massive pyramids.

There are references both in Old and New Testaments that slavery was recognized and institutionalized. In Islamic society slavery had been in practice like any other society in the world.

In ancient India, in the Hindu way of life, as articulated and archived by Manu, the people were formed into four caste categories based on division of labour – the different duties they were assigned for the function of the society and its well being. I.e.-Brahmin – performed priestly duties and intellectuals, Kshatriya – Rulers and Warriors to protect, Vaisya – merchants and traders, Sudra - cultivation of land and in other services to the other three classes in a descending order of hierarchy with specific sanctions (privileges and denials) to each of these. The privileges were the prerogative of the upper castes in the same descending order. The Dalits (untouchables) referred to more dignifiedly as ‘Harrijans’ by Gandhi were classified a status that was relegated to low end menial duties- that of hard and heavy labor, sweepers, agriculture labour hands, waste disposals- human wastes, leather workers etc who were placed out side the society’s main stream life; denied the equal rights and freedom to have a dignified existence.

The origin to place people into the four divisions of caste system could be a legacy of the ‘bicameral’ phenomenon. During the ‘bicameral’ period there have been a number of civilizations that had existed or moved into the Indo-Gangetic plain and all perhaps at different stages of development of consciousness, the Aryan race and their civilization being the most advanced. On merger of these civilizations and races over centuries the people with different levels of development fitted in to the appropriate slots in the caste system where the Aryans placed themselves up in the hierarchy. As the integration and developmental process proceeded people by virtue of their own intellect and skill or by inter mixing qualified to move up or down the caste ladder. Amplification on these dynamics is out side the scope of this article.

All such social inequalities, slavery and other forms of racial discriminations like apartheid in South Africa and elsewhere have been banned by constitution of individual countries and by law both national and international. It is one thing to frame laws; but, until the contemporary social system fully accepts and complies with the provisions- both in letter and spirit, it is a nonstarter. The social attitudes do not change overnight and takes longer to acclimatize. Looking at evolutionary adaptation and development process, civilization took over six millennium to evolve and only a few centuries to gallop to the present day status and the trend is continuing to be even faster, giving hopes the gestation period would not be too long.

Limitations of Socio/Economic /Political Models.

In the by gone civilizations, monarchies and various other autocratic leadership ware acceptable for reasons explained earlier; but as the mental and other cognitive faculties developed the people started showing resistance to such master – servant relationship. They yearned for freedom to think for themselves, deliberate and decide on what is good for them and not to be told.

Different social, political and economic thinkers over the generations have given different models to achieve the goals of emancipation and prosperity. These models have been tried and any extremist ideological approach has failed to deliver. Political system based on strict socialism that started as ‘by people and for people’ as opposed to the tyranny by malevolent monarchy or fascism, ironically transformed into dictatorship, because of concentration of power with certain key individual or section of the people. Straight jacket regimented political system with no opposition and economy, religious and social activity controlled by state with no incentive to innovation and competition failed –a simple case of freedom denied. Any political governing system that does not provide a responsible opposition is bound to become autocratic and oppressive, the logical end result given the fact that people are so vulnerable to selfish and self centered disposition and power makes them more despotic. The formation and disintegration of Soviet Union in a matter of seventy odd years is a remainder of the fact that despotism in any form will not be accepted by instinctively freedom seeking human beings.

The ‘checks and balances’ need to be in place to maintain even the best of democracies - the only best bet for the collective and individual freedom. Responsibility of individuals and collective bodies assume paramount importance to enjoy freedom that functions within the frame work of the constitution and the moral code of conduct.

Mutual Respect for Sovereignty and Independence of Nations.

With more enlightenment and awareness, that all human beings are created equally by nature, it is being increasingly realized that denial of the fundamental human rights to exist with dignity, freedom and equality each of which is complementary to the other, to any section of the society, cannot sustain the freedom and peace enjoyed by the rest of the society. In the world context any violations of human rights and freedom in any part of the world has an impact to the freedom and peace of people in other parts in an interdependent environment. Respect for freedom and sovereignty is a fall out of the recognition of the fact that no nation can usurp the freedom of another without the threat of losing its continued hold sooner or later, sometime to its own peril. The instances of American and various other colonial settlements around the world including India breaking away from their usurpers are standing realities to contend with.

However freedom of a nation lies in its own strength in terms of its political system and leadership, economic prosperity, power and resources to defend and the citizens’ loyalty, discipline and basic obligation to their nation in upholding their constitution and sovereignty. It is not always that all nations can be economically prosperous; yet they have the right to maintain their sovereignty and freedom. Extending the freedom dynamics to different nations, while the nations can be free to pursue its objectives with freedom and sovereignty, it cannot pose a threat to the freedom of other countries in a global context. Transparency in its activities needs to be maintained and subversive programmes to undermine other nations’ interests need to be prevented. International laws govern such compliances and violations.

United Nations’ has the key and sole role to play as the custodian of the security and welfare of the Nations of the world institued specifically for the purpose and this body should be allowed to perform with freedom to sort out issues related to any violations of its Charter. Nations with veto power as a responsible members should honour the decisions taken by the comity of Nations and not go at tangent by virtue of their privilege to veto – a power bestowed to a few most responsible nations to safe guard against aberrations if any and not to abuse the privileges

Religion and Freedom

Religions have been an integral part of human civilization. Religion and faith in God provided the mankind spiritual and emotional satisfaction, peace and security related to all aspects of life and beyond; therefore God, religion and mankind are inseparable.

They have contributed to moral code of conduct, morality, character and discipline, solidarity and feeling of brotherhood at least within a religious community that fostered the community’s growth and prosperity.

Methods of comprehending and realizing God, the common goal of all religions happen to be different because of differences in their ideological interpretations based on the social set up and beliefs prevalent in their geographical areas at that time zone. They have periodically undergone further refinements to form new religions - Jainism and Buddhism are offshoots of Hinduism; Christianity and Islam have common roots.

Each of the religions has the fundamental objective and obligation of safeguarding the spiritual needs of a person. The bottom -line is that the person is satisfied with his spiritual needs by following a certain religion of his choice and has the freedom to worship his way. Religions now extend beyond the geographic boundaries and territorial sovereignty of nations. It is unfortunate and ironical to witness chaos and bloodshed in the name of religion a sacred means intended to save and protect mankind and not to obliterate

In a global scenario, in a non homogenous population in the context of different national identities and allegiances, different races, languages and religions with different cultures the concept of freedom gets even more complex. Protection of liberties and freedom of all the constituents of the globe needs much more effort and commitment from the constituents themselves - the relevance of mutual trust, cooperation and respect, transparency and responsibility in pursuing activities affecting global interests and sharing the resources need not be over emphasized

At the end of the deliberations, the term ‘Freedom’ is still elusive; it can be only experienced and cannot be confined to a set of definitions of what freedom is.
It can be broadly understood by sincerely believing and acting as commanded in the various scriptures, out of which a few are quoted below - universally applicable across people, societies, races, nations, and religions

“Thou shallt love thy neighbour as thyself” I am the LORD Leviticus 19; 18
“That one I love who is incapable of ill will and Returns love for hatred”
Bhagvat Gita Chapter 12 Verse 18-19
“That which you want for yourself seek for mankind” Teachings of Islam
“Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful" Udana-Varga 5:18
Buddhism

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—About our writer:

M.R.Sampath says, "For records, I am a retired technocrat; but, I stay active both physically and mentally; Physical fitness, reading, writing and travel are my passion; my family and friends are my obsession. I live by the motto - 'Man dies when he stops thinking' The other one is- 'Make a family unit strong, healthy minded, happy and endearing for it is the building block of a healthy human community."

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