Ghazipur Literature Festival 2025: “True Freedom Makes The Soul Blossom”: CMD Upendra Rai

The Ghazipur Literature Festival 2025 concluded with thought-provoking discussions on literature, culture, and freedom.

Upendra Rai, CMD and Editor-in-Chief of Bharat Express, shared profound insights on India’s freedom struggle. He also highlighted the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela and the essence of Indian consciousness.

CMD Rai expressed deep pride in his roots and said he has always identified with Ghazipur and Sherpur. He noted that many people from the region are often associated with Varanasi.

He recalled the independence movement and its impact on his village. Nearly 200 villagers received freedom fighter pensions, and several of their family members actively joined the 1942 Quit India Movement.

CMD Rai highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s pivotal role in India’s independence. He praised Gandhi for initiating the Quit India Movement and for continuing his service even after Jawaharlal Nehru became Prime Minister.

Gandhi’s efforts included cleaning the Harijan colony in Delhi, exemplifying his commitment to social reform.

CMD Upendra Rai drew a parallel to Nelson Mandela, who, inspired by Gandhi, endured 27 years in prison to fight for South Africa’s freedom.

He reflected on India’s long history, enduring invasions for over three millennia. He emphasised that spiritual leaders like Mahavir and Buddha showed the path to both inner and outer freedom.

CMD Upendra Rai posed a philosophical question: “If all the wealth of the world’s capitalists were weighed against the teachings of Buddha and Mahavir, who would truly choose material wealth? He concluded that genuine freedom allows the soul to blossom like a flower from a bud”.

Contrasting India with the United States, Rai described the US as the global ‘Guru’ of capitalism.

However, he argued that India remains the “Guru” in spirituality. India’s strength, he said, lies in its spiritual consciousness, which places freedom at the core of modern life.

CMD Rai further emphasised that freedom extends beyond holding positions of power.

True freedom is the ability to choose one’s life path—whether in marriage, education, travel, or expression.

He cited his own marriage, where his parents did not attend because he married a woman from a different community, as an example of exercising personal freedom.

CMD Rai concluded that in today’s “Global Village,” challenges are new, but discussions about social, cultural, and personal freedoms reflect India’s progress.

The festival demonstrated that literature serves as a vital platform for exploring values, consciousness, and the true meaning of modern freedom.

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