Self-reign or “Sovereign”?

26th January is India’s Republic day. The day our constitution was formed and we declared ourselves a “Sovereign, socialist and republic” nation.




Out of this, the one word “sovereign” has always struck a chord with me.



What exactly does this word denote?




Is it to free ourselves from all shackles that bound us and become our own masters in the physical sense or does it also involve the freedom from mental bondage?

Is the body the only thing that strives for self-reign or the mind and the heart too wish for the same power?

Are we truly free when we aren’t physically subjugated or does true freedom come from being mentally, emotionally and psychologically free??






Just some days back, I met a friend, who is in her forties, yet seems to be in her twenties. She’s pretty, is very fit and there’s not a single wrinkle to mar her pretty face. I for a fact am totally jealous of her and I presume, so are all the other women who aspire to become like her!



So as usual, when I met her and complimented her on her eternal youth, instead of feeling happy, she looked morose. According to her, she has started feeling awkward and somewhat unhappy about her never ending youthful appearance. From her speech and actions, I gathered that she would have been happier had she looked her age!






That left me wondering…






More than half the population across the world is obsessed with beating age and escaping the scars given by the fangs of time. The wish of looking eternally young is the backbone of the beauty market.

Hence the tsunami of all the potions and lotions and concoctions of getting that flawless skin, “jissey aapki umra ka pata bhi nahi chalta” (the tagline of a popular beauty soap)





Where hiding all the fine lines, sags, snags and wrinkles is the norm, there’s a specimen who’s flustered and irritated because she doesn’t seem to age!!!!!




Aren’t we ever free of wishful thinking or desiring what we do not possess?

Can we never be satisfied?

Is bliss, contentment and peace so elusive??




Is “Poorna Swaraj”, a state of total and complete freedom from all that bounds our minds and hearts, a mirage?





As Osho says, “Freedom is something inner. It is of the consciousness. You can be free anywhere – chained, in a jail, you can be free – and you can be unfree outside the jail, in your own home, visibly absolutely free, but you will be a prisoner if your consciousness is not free”