The Oppressor and the Oppressed Must Both be Liberated
अत्याचारी और शोषित व्यक्ति, दोनों को मुक्त कराना ज़रूरी है-- नेल्सन मंडेला द्वारा लिखित (३० मार्च, २०१६)
मैं हमेशा से जानता था कि हर इंसान के मन की गहराई में दया और उदारता है। कोई भी किसी दूसरे से उसकी त्वचा के रंग, या उसके हालात, या उसके धर्म की वजह से नफरत करता हुआ जन्म नहीं लेता। लोगों को नफरत करना सीखना पड़ता है, और अगर वो नफरत करना सीख सकते हैं, तो उन्हें प्यार करना भी सिखाया जा सकता है, क्योंकि मानव हृदय में नफरत की बजाए प्यार अधिक स्वाभाविक रूप से आता है। जेल में सबसे खराब समय में भी, जब मेरे साथियों और मुझे हद से अधिक कष्ट दिया जाता था, मैं फिरभी शायद सिर्फ एक पल के लिए किसी एक गार्ड में मानवता की एक किरण देख लेता था, शायद सिर्फ एक सेकेंड के लिए, लेकिन मुझे आश्वस्त करने और मुझे चलते रहने की हिम्म्त देने के लिए इतना ही काफी था। मनुष्य की भलाई एक ऐसी लौ है जिसे छिपाया जा सकता है लेकिन बुझाया नहीं जा सकता।
यह उन लंबे और अकेले वर्षों की बात है जब अपने ही लोगों की स्वतंत्रता के लिए मेरी भूख सभी लोगों की स्वतंत्रता की भूख में बदल गयी, चाहे वो गोर हों या काले। मैं अच्छी तरह से जानता था कि अत्याचारी को भी मुक्त कराना निश्चित रूप से उतना ही ज़रूरी है जितना शोषित इंसान को। वो आदमी जो दूसरे आदमी की स्वतंत्रता छीन लेता है, वो घृणा की कैद में है, वो पक्षपात और संकीर्ण सोच की सलाखों के पीछे कैद होता है। अगर मैं किसी दूसरे की आज़ादी छीन रहा हूँ तो मैं भी पूरी तरह से आज़ाद नहीं हूँ, ठीक वैसे ही जैसे जब मेरी आज़ादी मुझसे छीन ली जाती है तब मैं आज़ाद नहीं हूँ। अत्याचारी और शोषित व्यक्ति, दोनों ही अपनी मानवता से वंचित रह जाते हैं।
जब मैं जेल से बाहर निकला, मेरा यही लक्ष्य था, दीन और अत्याचारी दोनों को आजाद करावाना। कुछ लोगों का कहना है कि अब उस लक्ष्य को हासिल किया जा चुका है। लेकिन मुझे पता है कि ऐसा नहीं है। .. हमने अपनी यात्रा का अंतिम कदम नहीं, बल्कि एक और लम्बे और पहले से भी अधिक कठिन राह पर पहला कदम रखा है। क्योंकि मुक्त होने के लिए केवल अपनी जंजीरों को काटकर फेंक देने की ही ज़रूरत नहीं है, बल्कि इस तरह से जीने की ज़रूरत है जो औरों की स्वतंत्रता का सम्मान कर सके और उसे और बढ़ाने में मदद करे। स्वतंत्रता की ओर हमारी लगन की असली परीक्षा की यह सिर्फ शुरुआत है।
विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: आप इस बात से क्या समझते हैं कि अत्याचार करने वाले को मुक्त करवाना उतना ही ज़रूरी है जितना शोषित व्यक्ति को? क्या आप अपना कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बाँट सकते हैं जब आपने अत्याचारी और शोषित व्यक्ति दोनों से गहरा सम्बन्ध महसूस किया हो? ऐसा क्या है जिससे आपको औरों की आज़ादी का सम्मान करने और उसे और बढ़ाने में मदद मिलती है?
यह लेख नेल्सन मंडेला की आत्मकथा: “स्वतंत्रता की और लम्बी यात्रा” से लिया गया है।
From Nelson Mandela's autobiography: Long Walk to Freedom.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed? Can you share a personal story of a time when you felt deeply connected to both oppressor and oppressed? What helps you live a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others?
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28 Past Reflections
On Nov 24, 2023 Ekisha Smith wrote :
As a African American Women to face the stereotypes of being uneducated, weak, homemaker, hostile, aggressive, overbearing and ill-tempered. Just to name a few, when facing yourself in the mirror you should be proud of what you see. Without me there is no them. If we as a people apply 'The Golden Rule" the future of our generations will have a new from freedom like never before.
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On Mar 22, 2022 whitney wrote :
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On Nov 7, 2021 Jovanne morales wrote :
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On May 14, 2021 Divyani kumari wrote :
'He always thought that both oppressed and oppressor are deprived of their humanity, so both of them need to be liberated and he always desired people to live with didnity and respect'. This is the way we live that respects and enchances the freedom of others
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On May 11, 2021 Shivanshu wrote :
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On Mar 30, 2021 cydney wrote :
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On Sep 13, 2019 Kunal wrote :
1 reply: Saheli | Post Your Reply
On May 13, 2019 Soumik wrote :
1 reply: Jamie | Post Your Reply
On May 12, 2019 Subhalaxmi wrote :
This should not happen as we all have six fundamental rights.😃😄
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On Feb 16, 2019 Ruby chitman wrote :
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On Dec 5, 2017 pj wrote :
In logh of all going on in the world today, I feel as if I am the oppressed whe I have never or would never hurt anyone. I am conservative Christian (white, although I do have scottish, german and american indian heritage), I am a proud American, I do not want history erased, I stand for our our anthem and Flag out of respect. I recognize the atrocious behavior of our forefathers, but going forward in progress not backwards in hatred is the key😔
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On Aug 27, 2017 sikak wrote :
mandela was a prophet of the highest caliber. his mind is evidence of the greatest thought our species is capable of: reciprocal altruism based on empathetic compassion. our species is, indeed, hardwired for this orientation, but painful experiences distort and twist a healthy human mind into something else. the oppressor and the oppressed are opposite sides of the same coin and we must always remember that - its how we rehumanize the dehumanizer and avoid the pitfalls that experiential distortions turned into extreme boundary drawing behavior can become.
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On Apr 2, 2016 Smile wrote :
The awakin reading immediately took me to a recent incidence when I became controlling. I did have awareness of my freedom being oppressed at times, but this was a new realization. To allow freedom to exist for ourselves and others, more open-mindedness, trust and love is needed.
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On Apr 2, 2016 Smile wrote :
Its an eye-opening passage. Recently, for something small, I had tried to control.
I generally think of myself as the oppressed but today,as soon as the passage was read, i remembered the incidence and realised i am an oppressor too. Perhaps I have learnt that as the way from what i received, but truth is - its right there and how could I take away another person's freedom because of my own ways or learnings.
It needs to be worked on for a freer, happier life for myself and others.
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On Mar 30, 2016 Mariette wrote :
1 reply: Abimbola | Post Your Reply
On Mar 29, 2016 AJ wrote :
On the "liberation" note, the only one who can free us from this sin is Jesus. When I reflect on Him, Jesus never used His power, authority, superior position to "sit upon us" ... He (very patiently) walks beside us. (He did not come to Earth to condemn ... But to save. "Do THIS in memory of Me".
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On Mar 29, 2016 sadhana wrote :
Yes,it is correct.But the oppressor does not think so.It is only understood by a person who looks at it objectively rising above the situation.
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On Mar 29, 2016 Anne Winther wrote :
The oppressor must be liberated. Too frequently the oppressed become the oppressors, as the oppressed in their freedom emulate the power of their oppressors. The work of Joseph Conrad tells the story and history bears witness (e.g. oppressed Scots becoming oppressors as colonizers of new territories) . True liberation of the oppressed means destruction of the old models of power and co-creating new forms of living encompassing justice, harmony and well-being for all.
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On Mar 27, 2016 david doane wrote :
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On Mar 25, 2016 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
Wow, this is timely given our current political campaigns in the US. I see so much hatred, yet my initial response in compassion. How hurt this person and these people must be to react with such hatred. How can we heal that hurt? I resonate so much with Mandela's thinking; none of us are free if we do not live from a place of compassion for EVERYONE and seek to unshackle from hatred. I think so much hatred is born out of fear, and if we can address those fears through trying to listen then we are one step closer to healing. Whew! Hugs to everyone from my heart to yours.