Our children need spaces to build opinion and expression
Over the last few years we have been regularly witnessing the deliberate silencing of people in the name of caste, creed, religion, nation, sex and opinion. These incidents have raised several questions in front of us, questions that should ideally frame our work with our children and with each other. These incidents have raised questions over the safety of having a perspective and over advocating for what you deeply believe in. It has raised questions over the availability of spaces which can truly hold opposing opinions and still function. It has raised questions over the core principles of democracy, socialism and secularism, which this country stands for.
Since time immemorial we have always tried to create spaces for our children to find their voice and many of us have made amplifying children’s’ voices our life’s mission. This has become more important now, than ever before. We have to consistently work hard to make sure that our children are not silenced either by deliberate force or by designed isolation. We have to make sure that every child not only has a space to share their thoughts and feelings but also has a space to nurture them.
The country needs a generation which can write and speak fearlessly and, read and listen with empathy.
The country needs spaces that nurture rational perspectives, bold opinions and humans with a voice.
In the end, I will leave you with a poem by Faiz Ahmad Faiz.
बोल कि लब आज़ाद हैं तेरे
बोल ज़बाँ अब तक तेरी है
तेरा सुतवाँ जिस्म है तेरा
बोल कि जाँ अब तक् तेरी है
देख के आहंगर की दुकाँ में
तुंद हैं शोले सुर्ख़ है आहन
खुलने लगे क़ुफ़्फ़लों के दहाने
फैला हर एक ज़न्जीर का दामन
बोल ये थोड़ा वक़्त बहोत है
जिस्म-ओ-ज़बाँ की मौत से पहले
बोल कि सच ज़िंदा है अब तक
बोल जो कुछ कहने है कह ले
This was written for the first anniversary edition of Voices from Malvani.
