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फ्रीडम ऑफ स्पीच और ज़िम्मेदारी || आचार्य प्रशांत, NDTV इंटरव्यू, IIT दिल्ली (2025)
ललकार
13.1K views
1 year ago
Freedom
Responsibility
Freedom of Speech
Self-Knowledge
Internal Liberation
Truth
Spirituality
Information Explosion
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that freedom is fundamentally an internal state rather than just an external condition. While external constraints like physical imprisonment are easily visible, internal bondages—such as deep-seated prejudices, rigid ideologies, and self-imposed limits—often go unnoticed because they are ingrained from the outside. He argues that true expression is the essence of life, but one can only express themselves authentically if they are internally liberated. Without this inner freedom, a person's speech merely echoes their internal chains, even if it sounds profound. Therefore, the primary goal should be to look within and strive for internal liberation. Regarding the freedom of speech and expression, he explains that since the internal state cannot be seen or heard directly, speech serves as a vital diagnostic tool. Allowing someone to speak is the only way to understand their internal condition and provide a remedy for their mental or spiritual bondage. He references the Indian Constitution and the Supreme Court's view that the right to freedom of speech is the foundation of all other freedoms. However, he distinguishes between speech that leads to higher consciousness, like that of Mahatma Gandhi, and trivial content that offers no real growth. He notes that while satire and humor can be educational, many creators provide low-quality content simply because it is popular. Acharya Prashant asserts that a person's primary responsibility is toward the Truth, not toward pleasing an audience. A genuine content creator or leader should guide the audience toward liberation, even at the risk of losing popularity or facing legal consequences. In the digital age, where information and misinformation are abundant, he warns that humans often gravitate toward harmful content due to innate tendencies. He concludes that without internal spiritual progress, external technological advancements like artificial intelligence become self-destructive. True responsibility begins with self-knowledge and an internal revolution that eventually reflects in one's external actions and influence on society.