Red Fort, Delhi: Visitors describe freedom in their own terms

The Tricolour had been raised at Red Fort and the crowd was beginning to thin when Tanya Bahadur, 19, described what freedom meant to her: there were still things to fight for before people could say they were completely free.

Bahadur, a Delhi University student, said she and her friend Shikha Kumari had seen student protests and girls being trolled online. Kumari said she had hoped the Prime Minister would address recent protests. For her, the unfinished work included confronting corruption and inequality, and ensuring that everyone had a fair chance.

The conversations followed the Independence Day ceremony at Red Fort, with visitors linking freedom to their daily lives.

A life measured against change

Venkatesh Sinha, in his 90s, watched the celebrations from a wheelchair beside his daughter. He said India was economically better off than before, but wondered how much poorer people had gained. “I hope there are no more riots,” he said.

Sinha returned to remember his late wife, who used to attend every year. He stopped coming after her death a decade ago. “I came today because I don’t know if I will be able to come again,” he said.

Safety, services and a fair chance

Aliza Khan, 26, said freedom meant not having to constantly think about one’s identity. She and her husband chose to attend because, she said, India belonged equally to them; her grandfather had sacrificed his life for the country. Her husband said he wanted to live peacefully with his family in an area with better civic amenities.

For Bablu, who works as a waste-picker, freedom was tied to the certainty of work and enough money at home. Fruit seller Md. Amzad, 37, looked ahead to his children’s education. He said he would feel the country had truly progressed if they could get opportunities he did not have, earn well and live with dignity.