India is a secular state. It refrains from forcing a particular religion upon its citizens. The Constitution of our country clearly lays down the  for all citizens residing in the country regardless of caste, creed or gender. Inturn, citizens are granted the freedom of conscience and the freedom to practice, profess and propagate the religion if their choice without interference. The beauty of this right is that it allow citizens to choose their religion yet prohibits them of speaking against any other belief.

In my opinion, many of us have taken this right for granted. Yet this freedom to choose and practice our own religion, has not restricted an individual’s behaviour. People might translate this right in relation to the freedom to choose one’s religion alone but I would like to think that this right is just the foundation of independence as a holistic entity. I watch people around the world being blatantly deprived of their freedom to practice a religion of their choice. I cannot help but think that the right to freedom of religion is one of the very basic foundations of our democracy. The constitution truly proves itself to be ‘of the people’ by giving to us this right.

In a country where many freedoms are offered to me conditionally, such a right can truly be liberating. I might be a stereotypical teenager - lazy and unbothered, but I hold my own beliefs about a higher power and I take great pride in the fact that my country allows me to hold these beliefs regardless of what they might be.

No, I am not denying that there have been violations of this right. The Gujarat riots in 2002 are a testament to this and Anti-Conversion laws can be used as an excuse for intimidation of other faith groups. But I am merely choosing to be optimistic because I am proud of my country for the tolerance it shows on so many different levels. I consider it an amazing feat that India, known to many as ‘Land of the many Gods’ still manages to remain secular in nature.

So here is to this Independence Day and the ones to come. May it be filled with an appreciation for what we already have and anticipation for what the future might hold!