How do I exercise my right to free speech? Or Do I?

 I am a rightful citizen of a democratic country- or at least that's what the narrative is. Practicing the rights of the citizen in Nepal is followed by certain duties and exceptions to what is punishable very much similar to other democratic nations. 

Nothing in the world lies independent of exceptions and so is me practicing my right of freedom of speech. This right of mine is a negative right as I can present my views on certain issues with my right to ensure no one harms me or any form of violence is led by my views. 

The right of free speech doesnot only allow me to talk or present my view without having the fear to be punished or tortured by the government but also does it make me aware of what limitations do I have to consider.

As for the state of free speech in my case I believe, I get to practice my right to free speech to some extent only. The nation guarantees to secure this right however, stating about certain political agents and positions or sometimes even writing a post or a comment on social media network site makes me think twice.

Though, I do pass my views and comments in various formats however, this fear of having to face the walls of the court at one time always remains. Not only by the government, I would here like to exemplify how my experience went a day with an government official. For a work of certain  documents, I had been referred to the office of the CDO of Kathmandu. My appointment time was 11am sharp, however I had to wait till 4pm because he was in an important meeting. I personally would understand that but this led to a situation where I had to question my right of free speech. I wanted to talk to the spokesperson or the office representative there to complain about the delay and not informing prior so I could have not missed other works of mine, but eventually, I wasn’t allowed to enter the office and in fact was labeled as a “rebel complaining child of the 21^st century”.

Now coming down to the layman experience, my right to free speech also is hindered somewhere in my own circle of family as expressing my views on certain stereotypes has led to a lot of torturous comments from them. For example when I spoke up about the way daughter- in- laws are treated in most of the families even in a literate society, I was being backlashed with a lot of comments that affected my mental state to some extent. My right to free speech and to express on my views on issues were challenged and cause of the family setting I didn’t know where to bring my voice to. 

The right to free speech also ensures my allowance to speak on digital platform as well as physical presentation however, sometimes the hierarchy pattern of the society had made me hesitant about expressing my views numerous times. In a class setting of the university, a professor of mine- keeping the name anonymous- keeps passing comments on us multiple times however, we being students cannot mostly answer him or let him know that he is in a way harassing our mental state. We as a class of scholars of undergrad still cannot practice our right to express how we feel should be the class setting in the particular class. 

Arguing is taken as one of the misunderstanding when I or my friends have expressed themselves in societal setting. When we talk and sit at times, we have been coming to conclusion that we are declared as disobedient and rebellious kids a lot many times. We, like i afore mentioned are definitely aware of our limitations however, sometimes we need to make people of the upper generation understand that everyone can have different opinion and expressing one doesnot make anyone being arrogant. 

All in all, the larger generation gap, societal pattern of hierarchy, regulations of the law etc. make us hesitant to use our rights in multiple places.