Freedom of Expression G Surya Prakash Rao
Freedom of expression and our right to do what we want, become big news and are debated hotly, every now and then, in India. This happens whenever there is a protest against any work of art or against the views expressed in a book. Or, even when a dress code is enforced in a college or certain types of meetings are conducted by students in universities. Let us take a dispassionate look at the issues involved.
Free speech is quintessential to a democracy, as it facilitates open exchange of diverse opinions and competing viewpoints without fear of retribution, restriction or repression by the government. Since John Milton’ s stout defence of freedom of expression in the 17th century, several major thinkers have lent their voice against suppression of free speech. The Declarations, both of the American and French revolutions of 18th century, included freedom of opinion and expression as a fundamental principle. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, likewise, provides the right of freedom of opinion and expression to everyone
G Surya Prakash Rao, Mechanical Engineer( OU, 69), has a Master ' s Degree in Philosophy too. Software designer by professional background, he has worked for IBM in Bombay and Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, before setting up an IT company along with a few colleagues in 1980. He is the founder Managing Editor of Muse India and one of the founder Directors of Hyderabad Literary Festival.
He is author of ' Krishnadeva Raya- the Poet-Emperor of Vijayanagara,’ published by Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, an authentic English biography of the renowned Vijayanagara emperor. The other books to his credit are Meghamitra and other Poems and a compilation of short stories, The Lock at the Gate. Several articles of his, covering issues of Information Technology, culture and civic concerns, have been published by The Hindu, The Times of India, Hyderabad, and Newstimeover the years.
through Article 19. This right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media. The American Declaration of Rights and Duties of Man, 1948 as well as American Convention on Human Rights, 1969provide similar right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers,
either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium of one’ s choice. The exercise of the right shall not be subjected to prior censorship and the right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods by the government. All the international conventions, particularly after World War II, have similar provisions. Thus, it is quite apparent that the right to hold opinion and its free expression, without censorship of the ruling coterie, has been seen as one of the highest ideals of humankind. The Indian Constitution, 1950 provides for freedom of expression vide Article 19.
While the inalienable right to free opinion and expression has been hailed, and incorporated in most of the
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