Freedom, in their own words: Urjasvini students reflect on what India means to them
At Urjasvini Special School in Indore, Independence Day became more than a ceremony. Students spoke about freedom as the right to express themselves, to be loved, to belong, to face challenges and to know that there are people around them who will stand up against bullying and make space for them.
A flag moving in the breeze, familiar patriotic music and the sound of students gathering together can give Independence Day its recognisable shape. At Urjasvini Special School, however, the meaning of the occasion emerged less from the ceremony itself and more from the voices of the students.
For them, freedom was not limited to the historical story of India's independence. It was also about something closer to everyday life — being able to express an opinion, being accepted for who they are, being loved, having the confidence to take part and knowing that difficult moments do not have to be faced alone.
Their reflections carried different emotions, but a common thread ran through them: freedom matters when it can be experienced in ordinary life. The students spoke about India as a place where people can dream, communicate, care for one another and continue moving forward even when circumstances are difficult.
Bhavya Kashyap sees freedom as the right to be heard
Bhavya Kashyap connected freedom with the ability to express thoughts and feelings without being made to feel that those feelings do not matter. Her understanding of independence went beyond the national flag and the celebration around it. She spoke about the importance of having the space to say what one thinks, to be heard and to be accepted.
“For me, freedom means being able to express myself and knowing that my voice matters. Everyone in India should have the freedom to speak, to be themselves and to be heard.”
— Bhavya Kashyap, student, Urjasvini Special SchoolThere was a personal quality to Bhavya's words. The idea of expression is easy to reduce to a textbook definition, but for a student it can mean having the confidence to participate in a conversation, share an idea, make a choice or tell someone when something feels wrong.
That makes her interpretation of Independence Day particularly relevant to school life. A celebration of freedom can also be a reminder that students need environments in which their voices are taken seriously.
Sachman Singh finds freedom in belonging and being loved
Sachman Singh spoke about another part of freedom — the freedom to belong. His reflection brought the conversation from individual expression to relationships and the people who make difficult moments easier to face.
He spoke about the importance of being loved and accepted, while also acknowledging that life can bring challenges. For him, freedom does not mean that every problem disappears. It means having the space to remain oneself while knowing that supportive people can be around when things become difficult.
“Freedom means being able to be who I am, to be loved and to be here without feeling that I have to change myself for everyone. There will be challenges, but there are also good people around us who can stand with us.”
— Sachman Singh, student, Urjasvini Special SchoolHis words also brought bullying into the discussion. For students, freedom can be closely linked to safety and dignity. Being free to participate in school life means little if fear of ridicule or exclusion prevents someone from speaking, joining an activity or forming friendships.
Sachman's understanding therefore placed responsibility alongside freedom. A society that values independence must also make room for people who are different, protect them from bullying and allow them to participate without having to justify their presence.
Kavya Molasariya finds courage in facing challenges
Kavya Molasariya spoke about freedom through the experience of facing challenges. Her reflection suggested that independence is not simply the absence of obstacles. Sometimes, it is the confidence to keep going when obstacles are present.
She also spoke about the emotional importance of having people around who believe in you. That sense of support can change how a difficult situation feels, particularly for young people who are still finding their confidence and understanding their place in the world.
“Freedom gives us the courage to face challenges. We may have difficult days, but that does not mean we are alone. There are people who care about us, and that gives us strength.”
— Kavya Molasariya, student, Urjasvini Special SchoolHer words added another layer to the celebration. Independence is often described through large historical events, but courage can also be found in smaller moments — speaking up, trying again, entering a new situation, asking for help or refusing to let a difficult experience define the future.
Alfaiz Mughal sees India as a country with soul and heart
Alfaiz Mughal gave the occasion an expansive interpretation. His idea of India was not confined to geography or history. He spoke of a country with a sense of belonging, emotion and human connection.
For Alfaiz, freedom included the ability to be present in the country as oneself — to express, to love and to be loved. He also recognised that challenges and unkindness exist, but said that these do not erase the presence of people who choose to care, support one another and stand against bullying.
“India is a country with soul and heart. Freedom means that we can express ourselves, love and be loved, and be here as ourselves. We may face challenges and there may be bullies, but there are also good people who can stand together and fight against what is wrong.”
— Alfaiz Mughal, student, Urjasvini Special SchoolThere was emotion in the way Alfaiz spoke about India. His description moved away from slogans and towards relationships — the feeling of being part of a country where people can have different experiences and still share a sense of belonging.
It is also a reminder that the meaning of national freedom continues to evolve when it reaches classrooms and homes. For a student, the question is not only what happened when India became independent, but what freedom should feel like in the present.
When the flag becomes personal
Independence Day celebrations can sometimes be reduced to a familiar sequence of speeches, songs and flag ceremonies. At Urjasvini Special School, the students' reflections gave the occasion a more personal dimension.
Their words suggested that freedom has several everyday forms. It can be the confidence to speak without fear. It can be the right to be accepted without having to hide one's personality. It can mean being able to build friendships, experience affection, make choices and participate in school and community life.
It can also mean having people who notice when someone is struggling and choose to help rather than judge. In that sense, freedom is connected to responsibility. One person's freedom becomes stronger when another person respects it.
Deepak Sharma: listening to students is part of education
Deepak Sharma from Urjasvini Special School said the students' reflections showed why national occasions can have value beyond celebration. He said such opportunities allow students to connect a wider social idea with their own experiences and to communicate what matters to them.
Sharma said listening to students is also part of understanding how they see themselves, their school and the society around them. He said students should have opportunities to participate rather than simply being spoken about.
“When students speak about freedom in their own words, we understand that the idea is very personal. Their voices tell us about confidence, belonging, relationships and the need to be respected. Listening to them is an important part of education.”
— Deepak Sharma, Urjasvini Special SchoolDr Vini Jhariya: inclusion means creating space to belong
Dr Vini Jhariya, psychologist associated with Urjasvini, said the students' interpretation of freedom reflected an important part of inclusion: creating conditions in which children can participate, communicate and feel that they belong.
The students' comments about expression, acceptance, bullying and support also point towards a wider educational question: whether children feel that they can participate without being reduced to a label.
“Inclusion is not only about allowing a child to be present. It is about creating an environment where the child feels accepted, valued and supported. When children can express themselves and participate meaningfully, they experience a form of freedom that is very real.”
— Dr Vini Jhariya, psychologistFreedom in a school environment is not an abstract principle. It can be reflected in whether a child is encouraged to communicate, whether differences are respected, whether mistakes are treated as part of learning and whether students have opportunities to make decisions and take responsibility.
Hitesh Jhariya on confidence and everyday independence
Hitesh Jhariya, manager at Urjasvini, said the students' understanding of freedom also connected with confidence and independence. He said learning is not limited to academic performance and that students also need opportunities to develop communication, decision-making and life skills.
He said a supportive environment can help students deal with challenges without making those challenges the centre of their identity. The students' comments about bullying, friendship and support, he added, underline the importance of a school culture in which children know that they are not expected to face difficulties alone.
“Confidence grows when children are given opportunities to participate, make choices and experience success. Independence is not only a national idea; it is also something children build in everyday life as they become more confident and capable.”
— Hitesh Jhariya, manager, Urjasvini Special SchoolFour voices, one larger idea
Bhavya Kashyap spoke about expression. Sachman Singh spoke about belonging, love and support. Kavya Molasariya spoke about courage in the face of challenges. Alfaiz Mughal described India through the language of soul, heart, acceptance and collective strength.
None of these interpretations is identical, and that is what makes the students' reflections meaningful. Independence Day did not produce one standard answer from them. Instead, it gave them a chance to articulate different parts of an idea that is often presented in a single form.
Their understanding of freedom included the freedom to speak and the freedom to be heard. It included the freedom to be different without being excluded. It included the freedom to love and be loved. It included the courage to face difficulties and the assurance that supportive people can stand alongside you.
It also included something that can easily be overlooked in discussions about independence: the simple dignity of being allowed to belong.
Beyond the ceremony: what students teach us about independence
The students' reflections offer a way of looking at Independence Day beyond the familiar language of history. A country can celebrate political independence while individuals continue to think about what freedom means in their homes, schools, friendships and communities.
For a young person, freedom may be found in being able to tell a teacher what they think. It may be found in choosing an activity, making a friend, asking for help or saying no to something that feels wrong. It may be found in knowing that a mistake will not automatically become a reason for ridicule.
It may also be found in the presence of people who understand that support does not mean doing everything for someone. Sometimes, support means giving a person enough space to try, enough patience to learn and enough encouragement to try again.
Why these student voices matter
The reflections from Urjasvini students show that inclusion is closely connected with participation and voice. Rather than presenting students through labels, their own words reveal how they understand belonging, relationships, challenge, confidence and freedom.
Their comments also underline a wider point for schools and communities: an inclusive environment is created through everyday behaviour — listening, respecting differences, preventing bullying, allowing participation and recognising that every student has something meaningful to say.
India, seen through the students' eyes
There was no single emotion attached to the celebration. There was gratitude, but also thoughtfulness. There was pride, but also an awareness of challenges. There was happiness in being part of a national celebration, alongside an understanding that freedom has to be lived and protected in everyday interactions.
That is perhaps what made the students' reflections stand out. They did not speak about freedom as something distant or finished. They spoke about it as something present — something they can experience when they express themselves, when they are accepted, when they find friendship, when they are loved and when they know there are people willing to stand beside them.
And when Alfaiz Mughal described India as a country with “soul and heart”, the phrase carried the feeling running through the students' responses: that a nation is not only its history, its institutions or its symbols. It is also the people who make one another feel that there is a place for them.
At Urjasvini Special School, the flag was part of the celebration. But the deeper story was in the voices beneath it — students explaining, in their own ways, what it means to be free.
Freedom is also the freedom to belong
The most striking part of the students' reflections was their emphasis on belonging. They did not describe freedom only as the absence of restrictions. They connected it with the presence of care.
To be free, in their telling, is to have somewhere to stand and people with whom to share that space. It is to have a voice without fear, relationships without shame and the opportunity to keep growing even when life presents obstacles.
Their understanding leaves the celebration with a simple thought: independence becomes meaningful when people can experience dignity in their everyday lives.
For the students of Urjasvini Special School, that meaning came through in different voices, different experiences and different emotions. Together, they offered a reminder that the story of freedom is not only found in history books. It is also found in the everyday act of letting people be themselves — and making sure they know they belong.