I am convinced that freedom is an acquired taste, somewhat like dietary preferences. People brought up in a vegetarian households are likely to prefer vegetarian food. People brought up free tend to prefer freedom, and those brought up under command structures, prefer that. Muslims apparently prefer the stifling, humanity-denying strictures of Islam that non-Muslims generally find horrifying.
Indians are apparently quite comfortable being bullied, bossed, commanded, spoken down to, controlled, etc, and they in turn bully, boss, command, speak down to, control, etc., others. This loosely explains why Indians got ruled by Islamic invaders, why the Europeans could colonize India, and why “higher” caste Indians oppress the “lower” caste Indians. Once you claim superiority compared to some, you have to admit that you are inferior compared to some others. Those who value freedom for themselves can never deny freedom to others.
Good news is that the love of freedom can be inculcated in people. People who love freedom also want others to be free and therefore they are not interested in commanding others. Nehru is a typical example of a person who disliked the idea of freedom. He wanted to be a master. And that made his slavery to the British acceptable to him. A quote from Abraham Lincoln is apt here: “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.”
(Dumping on Nehru is de rigueur at this site. It is strictly required and is not the least gratuitous. Today I will visit Porbandar, the birthplace of another freedom-hating man, M K Gandhi. Bullying and commanding was his stock in trade too.)
This is a recycled post from Nov 4th, 2016.
Picture credit: I went on a five-day trip to Cochin last week. That’s the Periyar river winding its way through Aluva, a city in the Cochin metro area.
Atanu Dey : Life is a Random Draw 
Atanu – You make some valid points.
I would like to add some observations:
Most religions have a command/control structure, either overt or covert.
The Catholic religion is an example of overt – more so than Islam
Most religions tolerate patriarchy, misogyny and control in several ways, but are blind to it.
True freedom is unlikely to be achieved in a society where ALL peoples beliefs/wishes need to be respected.
There will always be winners and losers in society. It is how society treats the losers that counts.
Seeing faults in others is one of the most common trait in humans. We all know what is best for other people.
Thinking is difficult. That is why most people judge others.
The greatest way to live with honour in this world is to be what we pretend to be. Socrates
Thank you.
WJG
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