Hello and welcome to we, the People and Ishika Baru As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of its independence on we the people we asked people what Azadi truly means to us amid larger than life Azadi Ca Amrit Mahat Sav Teranga Everywhere almost friends leave celebrate Immigration's of social media The question really is Are we all he Cooley free for our Some of us for privileged is wearing your nationalism on your sleeve. The only proof of patriotism left is hoisting a flag now a pre qualification to be a flag bearer of nationalism. Must we should we even be asked to do it? Nick? No mistake. The lights, the tricolour are sold in every shop hoisted in every home is an absolute delight for all of us to see. But we must really asked that amid this Amrit Mahat said that we're seeing all around us today What really is the true meaning of Azadi? Well, it is a privilege and honour to be joined by our guests on with the people. Tonight we have Amman and an Ali son of a star the sons of Saddam, Chad Ali Khan. We also have Barrett. Bala is a filmmaker. He's produced Jana Gana Mana and Vandy Mottram videos, and we also have my Aunt Tiwari, screenwriter of Noted a Newton and Delhi Crime. Season two will also be joined by whole host of other guests in just a moment from now. But, you know, if I can begin by asking you, um on a on whichever one of you wants to, you know, take this on it very outside the question that I asked in my introduction, which is really Euro amid this grand celebration that we're seeing in India today, which like I said at the very outset is is is an absolute delight for so many of us to see the way the streets are lit the way monuments are led, the way the tricolour is being sold in every nook and corner, hoisted in every home euro everywhere that you see, the question really is what does freedom really mean to us today and can we can be really say that all of us are equally free is in the meaning of Indian classical music itself is freedom within discipline. So I think that pretty much sums it all that while we celebrate our freedom. I think we need to keep certain disciplines in mind while be celebrated. We should be perhaps sensitive. We should obviously do things the way we want to do it. But obviously, I mean, this is a historic moment. I mean, I think right now, whatever any Indian is doing today any red in the world, they are resonating the source of something so historic, something so joyous and momentous. So right away thing. Everyone is literally taking this celebration and making it their own. But I think really freedom with discipline is what freedom is. We have to celebrate it. But we have to also respect it. And and I just would like to take a moment to remember all the martyrs, all the freedom fighters, who you who gave us this moment is celebrate. Otherwise, things would have been so different today. And I'm so glad that you know, the honourable prime minister of India has taken its initiative of Azadi Company. We are performing in Carnegie Hall tomorrow representing India, So it's really a very momentous occasion for all of us, and it's something people cherish in the years to come. God willing, even during the Centenary year will remember this 75th celebration. Well, sure we will. I I also want to bring in Bharat Balan to the conversation and Vani Tripathi is also joining us. She is a member of the Central Board of film Certification and actor and producer herself also have for CR she film director Joining US Custody Shankar noted actor and activist, Also with us. Really a pleasure to have all of you and we the people tonight. But Mr Balance taken, you know, ask you, Do you think that we are perhaps a little measured in our azadi? Where? Where little cautious. We're careful in today's day and age. Do you Do you get that feeling? No, I think that's not true because I think I travel a lot across India and I go into the reporters corners of rural India. I think there's a sense of genuine pride in people and it's not. It's about how you look at them and say whether you know, there is a lot to be done, as always, lot to be done. But this is especially in the last currently where we are. There is a sense of feeling of a self try in people because they feel that they can do something on their own. It's like they are not depend and on something to happen. So when it gives them the confidence that they care, they're empowered to do what they want to do, and they feel that freedom importantly for me, I see freedom through creativity and an emotion of love. So I hear one has to look at through that lens and you will find only when you travel. Otherwise, if you get into debates like this with the law, always be falling shot. But it's a progress. It's I don't think this is. I don't think this is as much a debate as it is just asking ourselves, you know, very important question on how and if it all there is a yardstick to measure the Azadi. Like I said, that is a celebratory favour that were also cherishing. But, you know, be neat. All of that would it perhaps my Ankh Tiwari be simpler times if he won't asked to do certain things. If you want asked to be a part of a campaign 100% 100% 100% I think that show me being on the show. It's a matter of honour and I feel as a citizen of India a lot of pride that I am living to witness this historic day, that 75 years of our independence and I was a student when 50 years has happened and the spirit of the time at that time was totally different and the mood of the country was two very different. So if you were to ask me today, what would seek freedom mean to me, I would just say freedom from lives and freedom from, and if freedom actually means anything to any human being today, in this day and age in this world, it just means freedom to be able to disobey something that been told that he should do. If some human beings can disobey something and live with it, then I would say that that person is free. But if you cannot disobey and you are, then you are not free. So whatever form that disobedience states. But if you are not able to disobey, then it's not for Ty Woods. Kastari Shankar, do you think there is a line that you have to to a euro amid this celebration, like a said at the very outside the euro is freedom really equal for all? Or a some of us more privileged in a certain sense. Is that a line like like you just heard My Yang says they're aligned, that you feel we have to a first of Let me wish everyone with pride and on our on the occasion on the evils. Azad Icka, Amrit Mahat sob Very happy 75th Freedom Independence Day to everyone watching the show as well Do we have to to align? I do believe that in many, many ways, and I am a product, I'm a child of free India, a child of independent India. I do not know a past, my parents where Children of independent India. So for two generations, we don't know what it is to not be our own republic, not be our own sovereign citizens of a republic free country. So the only toeing the line that I know are the social Moore's that have steadfastly and stubbornly held on. Even after 75 years of India, I am bursting at the seams with pride. My chest to swelled with pride at the progress that we have made as a nation and certainly in the areas of gender equality, universal acceptance, LGBT rights, education. I am very proud of the progress and a huge strikes we have made in those areas at a fake time. At the same time, I feel we have slipped. India has slipped to behind Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Even in the hunger index, we have slipped in the in equality of opportunity index. I mean, when Jawaharlal Nehru gave the twist of Destiny's speech, he said. The biggest issues that we are facing our poverty of a gender, buyers of which is being made in the question. Vani Tripathi, if you want to come in here, is there a yard state to even measure Azadi today? What is the yardstick? Who decides the and remembered of Allama Iqbal today and start with complexity Road Push Bar rightly has sealed with Tina He Amari. So you know between the bangle ease of democracy, remember there is a generation with the independent vote most of my generation our Children with a bon decade So independence is not a monitored within the dialect is, um was democracy in the country that we are the definitive realities of truly being independent has constantly being work in progress with been a dynamic from the era of nation building of the the having take the worst Cy endemic of the of, um, humanity. The hard for the bus two years. Jess, we celebrate our independence because spirit of independent is a Is I it the 12 midnight I I said something very beautiful. And I'm also an actor by profession and there is discipline, interning similarly in democracies. When you turn, you turn it to the sense of discipline and also bridge the the sense of pride. Today he still we are changes. We have toiled subjected to be who we are today at the 70 year beautiful juncture is the cynical and will re questioning boarded it need both is independent then I think we actually need to look breath weather. We have become cynical as a nation All we are being while coming to cynicism and being progressive there of course, euro two ends of the spectrum eating Everyone's entitled to their opinion. You shout of G Thanks very much for joining us. I want to ask you Do you feel that there is. There is a distinction that has been drawn between chest thumping, nationalism and patriotism. And there is a There is a worry that only chest thumping nationalists are true patriots Now, a noise Cardinals Garmser trickle salon like, Oh, how proud I am to be a part of the show And how proud I am to say really to be with people like this who made you know who you are Part of freedom. I think I am on this panel. I probably and the only one who can ugly stay there. I'm child. I am a child of the Year of freedom and free items, Child. And how Prada, 75 years old in the November and house round as soon being with people like Ireland, you know? I mean, look at the spectrum, okay? And they are so proud to be performing at the Carnegie Hall. I wished I was there. Look at Bharat Val and I'm dying to sing in his whatever his projects are. But for be India is freedom. Freedom is being Indian. Freedom is being able to say to the whole wide world that in the larger picture, yes, we are citizens of India away citizens of the world. But in the larger picture, when we say the citizens of the world, it's great to be able to say and Indian really? Really. Um in brings tears to my eyes when I see everybody who is. You know, there is something there is a you can feel it in the air, you know, just before Independence Day you can feel it in the ever magic that is there. This can only happen in India truly and as the ballot, Bala said. You know, if you don't travel and if you don't see how the rest of the world is living, you really don't know how how wonderful it is to be a Indian, and I really don't. I mean, there is so many things we can talk about. But for me I lived to tell the tale that I grew up in an India which knew no boundaries of religion, caste, colour, creed more and brought up in Bombay, Madras e I mean South Indian and you know, Marathi was my third language. Hindi was by second language. French was my fourth language. We spoke, tumbled at home. We never knew what was different. You distinguish out of gaol, do that Unit eight, this anecdotal experience. And because, like you said your your 75th birthday this year as well. So you you share that should born with this as Attica. Amrit Matson, I want to ask you, Have you seen this kind of you know this way Boisterous brand or chest thumping nationalism before is it? Is it new to you? How do you look at it? No, it's not due to be Amin rights from school days. It's been absolutely like this, especially. I remember so clearly when there was the Chinese aggression and I was head girl of the school. I I so proud to be packing the You Nadav of packets for the ovens that it was such a fantastic moment. And really when I say I mean just look at at flies is something about it. There's something about just being Indian and just being able to say hey and part of this great big world, being Indian is the most important thing. But yes, the excitement And, you know, because of the media and letters of the electronic media that we have now in the olden days a mean or in the time when I grew up there was only the print media and so you know, we felt it. We felt the patriotism because by a perv cause visiting Police Electoral AG meant so much to us. But now it's all right in your face is try last minute Everywhere you've seen less frenzied times and what we see and and And I have to say that a lot of that is because of social media. And it is because of all awards, you know, the information that we're consuming A. If I can come to you've you're able to ask you there has been this whole, very well packaged, marketed campaign called the Azadi Comr It Mahat Sav you know which instils a sense of pride. It instils a sense of patriotism, no doubt. But like I said, it also begs the Broda question on whether or not we're all really equally Azad. I mean Euro that sadly a bring this up today that were reporting on a storey where a scheduled caste boy was skilled, beaten to death by his teacher because he drank from the same port. Very sadly, I reported Lish week that, you know a labourer was forced to bio ₹20 flag at a ration shop and he just refused because he said, I don't have the money to buy that flag. I mean, these are also storeys of independent India. These are also storeys of our A Sandy. See, this kind of incidents has nothing to do with word Azadi. The system of democracy is run on certain certain features. You know, all good, bad ugly, happens in any democracy. And so this is just one Incidents that happens every day is somewhere in India and that's the part of a system, you know. But when we talk of today, I feel that as at the castle loves hedges, Mr. Puri Kind at some I are Har Azadi. Joe. Hey, Bo Baker had a mea limit of PNA, said Carty. Or if you are happy, if any country is happy, that means of um Al Qaeda or the hockey India is is one of those beautiful countries which has, which is I want to say that India is one of the largest democracies, and when the democracy or any country has a lot of population and lot of different cultures cast religions then all good, bad ugly is very natural. It happened. It's the part of the government in its the responsibility of the government to to system eyes, to manage it so that the defence it today. Let's not talk about that. What is happening or bad in India? Can I let can be just a on a leaf I can come to you can meet a safely say that You know, while we have much to celebrate and we are we still have miles to go. I already gave my opening comments. A If you want a government, the repeat, the question crease and it can we Can we safely say that? You know, we've come a long way. We have much to celebrate on this very momentous occasion. But we have miles to go p for me as you know, um, during the conversation and firstly, mice alarms in NASCAR and adopts to all the panellists Ovadia i Azadi, if you ask me the word as Adi is basically to be free and not be scared of saying anything you want to say, you know, voice, your opinion, whatever you feel being not being scared of the repercussions or not been scare of being trolled all your years of abuse, you thing, the started that whatever you say, somebody or the other has an opinion to give on that. For me, that is a beautiful limitation, and it's very frustrating because you want to see things. One of voice opinion out. But you can't you can't do it because you're scared that somebody might taking away long with my mother arm bay. Proud that as a crowd Indian am, born to a Hindu mother in a Muslim Fars. And I for myself and India, you know, honestly, for me, I'm way blessed to see Bo of both of the world's. And I just feel that as an Indian, we have to go more ahead than religion in life to achieve. We have to think of for the youth. We have to think of medical care we're looking of. A lot of you know, we cannot just keep on easterly issues on religion because it's it is should be a part of, like not not lives there. So many other things that lead to a completion Indians, because when you come abroad, you see you know people are doing so much more year. Also, a lineage is part of their life. It's nothing but in our country. For some reason, this much discussion on this topic connect. It really breaks my art. Tennessee all of that. But I think they have miles to go. And as as everyone is saying that I am very proud in India, I think a hot cheque, our, um, Turkey, a key of one is in India, you know, is that the country is so beautiful with so much of things to offer. I think that's a beautiful thought. But I think that, you know, you also articulate what is like I said, that feeling that a lot of us have where you feel like you need to be measured, you know, in your responses in your reactions. Is that would you say, Vonnie Tripathi? That's a byproduct of living in an era with social media. The trolling that comes with the constant scrutiny, criticism to what you may may not say what you imply, do think there is. There is a constant spotlight every morning, the social media and conversations in the coming years gonna look at cinema around in being a producer, the much more used to the remains in the last one decade. You know they are. They're sensitive. Every part of storytelling. You know it. Presidential of Produce the protagonist jungle Lebanon's a positive box office places even are supposed to get financing but gave come to sticking with it, bothering me on your show today. And I would Balham, Bandon, Mataram that the longer ridiculous going across 15, 25 years ago game All of whose temples air mar was born that the the celebration of Tonga. It's not nationalism. It is a celebration of life, celebration of democracy and celebration of graduate early. This even on Sunday extract Ashram and the enforcement. This is what I call boys. Don't get me wrong. It is completely it's the expectation is discussed for National today, absolutely a calling of the year of Independence. We are able to discuss it today with all kinds of through the the words in this base works in the space. I have to ask you and U Penn your words. Do you measure them? C. I don't measure them and thankfully, I am working with people who don't expect those things from also cannot be blind platform for you. I think that's the point that Bonnie to party was making his well that while there is a space and platform for you, I think that in itself says says a lot. But there is. There is no discounting the fact that there is a certain environment we're in, where the country's today addicted to outrage, where the thing this is, the way you have to celebrate 75 years of the independent and no other ways about the multiple ways. Manc Tiwari There are multiple ways to celebrate, and I think the expression of art and music is perhaps the most beautiful. And like I said, it's in. It's around salud owner, because we're joined by some of the greatest artists of the greatest writers on this panel. So I have to request both Um, Anna Anna have to first request to shout Abdi that you have to end this programme on a musical note in the spirit of celebration that we're all in today. So it's out of the Would you would you like to sing a few lines? Boras to endless programme. And you know, this is just such such an amazing and section of fascinating discussion that we're having because we really don't want to be a country of our stretches. Is Andy Energis forget about all the problems that we have that then we do have problems like the rest of the world. But I think if you really measure the whole thing, I think finally I think we're much better off than the rest of the world and I am so, so happy today. Really. I want to say that as I said, I'm so glad that I lived to tell the tale that it's a fantastic, fantastic 75 years. I wish all our viewers which all of you of very, very happy Independence Day and thank you so very much, Thank you so much.
