Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech means to express the opinion of citizens in a democratic state. Democracy always nurses freedom of citizens as it is defined as, “The government of the people by the people and for the people”. 


The citizens of a democratic government can protest against in any violation of democratic rights of people. They can safeguard democracy by voicing against it. So freedom of speech is a universal right of every citizen granted by the democratic regimes of the world.


Real meaning: Freedom of speech in its wider sense does not mean to criticize the existing government for nothing, to use rough world whimsically and to embarrass anyone with impolite and improper languages. Freedom of speech refers to a rightful voice against injustice and oppression. Man is a talking animal. He has a liberty to express his mind or give out his opinion on anything reasonably. It means to voice the constructive criticism in a constructive way.


History: History gives silent evidence that in the 19th century the slaves had no franchise and freedom of speech. Women got franchise and democratic right in the 20th century. In the light of the definition of ‘democracy’ freedom of speech can be considered as the index of true democracy of a country.
Powerful instruments: Now-a-days, freedom of speech has become a powerful instrument of reformation and grievance redressed in most parts of the world. Satellite television has provided world wide access to the suppressed and repressed people to voice their sufferings and grievances on various forums. A dumb person or a block headed persons is to bear with oppression, exploitation and social injustice silently. His intellectual maturity does not allow him to voice his protest against them.

Importance: In a democratic country freedom of speech has an important role to play. It helps establish a fair government and it fine governance. An eminent political scientist says, “Freedom of speech is man’s birth right. It is an asset of the governed”. So a fair government and social system is not possible without the guarantee of freedom of speech to all citizens or members of the society or country. Interests of citizens are bound to clash. Unless the aggrieved has freedom to express his grievance and complain to the law enforcing agencies, he cannot protect his legal rights and safeguard his interests. Freedom of speech is also enshrined in the constitution of all civilized and democratic rights of the world.

The NGO’s role: In the present world, organizations for protections of human rights have been set up. Many non-government organizations (NGOs) are engaged in creating/spreading awareness of civil liberties and empowerment of women and other weaker sections of the society. In collaboration with national and international organizations monitoring the status of human rights, these NGOs have made a backward society. The NGOs have made frantic effects to inculcate the real conception of freedom of speech into the mind of the citizens who are still under the soporific influence of ignorance. The savage and common people are becoming aware of their civil and democratic rights by dint of the influences of these organizations.

Women’s voice: The rights of women have been paid a great importance in all respects. They can now establish all sorts of their rights in the forum of the court. They have after all, their womanly rights. They can give free voice to the opinion and problems and mobilize society or community and approach legal and executive agencies to sort out the thorny issues which have eluded solution so far. Many women are now found leading the governing body. Freedom of speech is used in obtaining and ensuring basic human rights. Whenever people are talking initiatives to liberate themselves from repressive political order, they are getting moral support of the people from the free countries. It is hoped and expected that proliferation of human right and freedom of speech of people will enforce the liberty of man throughout the world.



Freedom of speech refers to the expression of people’s mind on establishing a fair governance for all and sundry in a democratic state/country. 

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