Fractured Freedom

 

    Featured Freedom is a prison memoir written by Kobad Ghandhy who spent almost ten years as an undertrial in various jails in India. 

    Born in an affluent Parsi family he had everything one could ask for. His father was a CA in Glaxo India. He was sent to Doon School where his classmates included Sanjay Gandhy, Kamal Nath, and Navin Patnaik. After passing out of Doon School in 1963 he joined St Stephens College, Delhi. He studied Economics and passed out in 1967. He was sent to England to learn Chartered Accountancy. The racial discrimination by Britsh forced him to abandon his studies and join the struggle against casteism, inequalities, and social injustice.  He was deeply influenced by Marxism. 

    In India, he worked with Dalits and slum dwellers in Mumbai, Nagpur, and other such places. He did come in touch with Maoists and other radical elements but his work was largely devoted to getting justice for marginal communities. He married a co-worker Sudha and both of them took the decision not to have children, lest it causes obstruction to their work. Where else one could find such devotion? They worked with Dalits and Tribals in Tribal areas of Maharashtra and in Bastar region of Chhatisgarh. His wife died in 2008 while working for tribals in Bastar region. 

    He was picked up by police from Delhi and sent to Tihar Jail where he spent nearly nine years. Giving details of prison conditions he gives out details about how all kinds of rules are flouted by prison authorities and prisoners are mentally tortured by denials of basic authorised amenities. He was acquitted in most of the cases that came up for hearing in the courts. Having earned his freedom in 2019, he still has ten more cases pending against him. In Tihar Jail, in High-Risk Ward he had the chance to meet, Afzal Guru, Nirbhaya rapists, politicians like Chautala, Sudheendha Kulkarni, Dons from UP, Khalistanis and Islamist terrorists and Maoists. He appeared to have disillusioned with Maoists whom he compares with Mafia. 

    Why did he choose such a life? He says, "Well I don't really know; with the comforts we had been used to, it would have been far easier to settle down with all the inherited wealth. But then, when I think again, would that have given us happiness? Anu (his wife) was such a natural, honest person she could have never compromised with her convictions. And I would never have been comfortable in the corporate world of greed. So, communism seemed the answer for both of us."   

    He is quite an intellectual. Towards the end, he has reflected on life, our past, future, Happiness, Democracy, and Freedom. That part of the book gives out his outlook on life and Indian Democracy. 

    Overall a readable book.