Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights of the citizens of India. Many countries around the world allow freedom of speech to its citizens to empower them to share their thoughts and views. The government of India and many other countries provide freedom of speech to their citizens. This is especially so in countries with democratic governments. The number of essays under varying lengths on the topic is given below to help you, select any of them as per your need:

Long and Short Essay on Freedom of Speech

Essay 1 (250 words)

Introduction

Freedom of speech is one of the basic rights given to the citizens of most of the countries across the globe. It enables the people residing in those countries to speak their mind without the fear of being punished by the law.

Origin of Freedom of Speech

The concept of freedom of speech originated long back. England’s Bill of Rights 1689 adopted freedom of speech as a constitutional right and it is still in effect. The French revolution in 1789 adopted the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This further affirmed the Freedom of Speech as an undeniable right. The Declaration of Freedom of Speech and Expression in Article 11 states:

“The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law”.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted in the year 1948 also states that everyone should have the freedom to express their ideas and opinions. Freedom of Speech and Expression has now formed a part of the international and regional human rights law.

Freedom of Speech – The Basis of Democracy

A democratic government gives various rights to its people including the right to elect the government of their country. Freedom of speech and expression is known to form the basis of a democratic nation. Merely electing the government is no use if the citizens do not have the right to voice their opinion in case they feel that the elected government is not performing as per the standards set by it initially. This is why the right to freedom of speech is an essential right in democratic nations. It forms the basis of democracy.

Conclusion

Freedom of speech empowers people to share their ideas and bring about positive changes in society.

Essay 2 (400 words)

Introduction

Freedom of Speech is considered to be a basic right that every person must be entitled to. It is among the seven fundamental rights given to the citizens of India by the Indian constitution. It forms a part of the Right to Freedom that includes the freedom of speech and expression, right to life and liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of residence, right to practice any profession, freedom to form unions, associations or cooperatives, protection in regard to conviction in offenses and protection against arrest in some cases.

Why is Freedom of Speech Essential?

Freedom of speech is essential for the all-round growth and development of a person as well as a nation as a whole. Imposing restrictions on what one speaks or hears can hamper the development of a person. It can even create discomfort and dissatisfaction that leads to stress. A nation filled with people full of discontent can never grow in the right direction.

Freedom of Speech gives way to open discussions that help in exchange of ideas which is essential for the growth of society. It is also essential to express one’s opinion about the political system of the country. When the government knows that it is being monitored and can be challenged or criticized for the steps it is taking, it acts more responsibly.

Freedom of Speech – Closely Related to Other Rights

Freedom of Speech is closely related to other rights. It is mainly required to protect the other rights given to the citizens. It is only when people have the right to express and speak freely they can raise their voice against anything that goes wrong. It enables them to take an active part in democracy rather than just being involved in the election process. Similarly, they can guard other rights such as the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom of Religion, Right against Exploitation and Right to Privacy only when they have the Freedom to Speech and Expression.

It is also closely related to the Right to Fair Trial. Freedom of Speech and Expression enables a person to put across his point freely during a trial which is extremely essential.

Conclusion

Freedom of speech gives the power to raise voice against any kind of injustice happening around. The governments of the countries that offer Right to Information and Opinion and Freedom of Speech and Expression must also welcome the opinions and ideas of their citizens and be receptive to change.

Essay 3 (500 words)

Introduction

Freedom of Speech and Expression is one of the basic rights guaranteed to the citizens of India. It comes under the Right to Freedom which is among the seven fundamental rights included in the Indian constitution. The other rights include the Right to Equality, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, Right to Privacy, Right against Exploitation and Right to Constitutional Remedies.

Freedom of Speech in India

The constitution of India provides Freedom of Speech to every citizen however with some restrictions. This means that people can freely express their views about others as well as the government, political system, policies, and bureaucracy. However, speech can be restricted on moral grounds, security, and provocation. Under the Right to Freedom in the Indian constitution, the citizens of the country have the following rights:

• Freedom to speak and express ideas and opinions freely
• Freedom to assemble peacefully without any arms and ammunition
• Freedom to form groups, unions, and associations
• Freedom to move freely in any part of the country
• Freedom to settle in any part of the country
• Freedom to practice any profession
• Freedom to indulge in any kind of business or trade provided it is not unlawful.

India is known as a democratic country in a true sense. The people here have the right to information and can give their opinion on anything even the activities of the government. Freedom of Speech empowers the media to share all that is going on in the country as well as around the world. This makes the people more aware and keeps them updated with the latest happenings from around the world.

The downside of Freedom of Speech

While the Freedom of Speech allows an individual to share his thoughts and ideas and contribute towards the betterment of his society and fellow citizens, there are many disadvantages attached to it too. Many people misuse this freedom. They do not just express their views but also impose them on others. They instigate people and form groups to conduct unlawful activities. The media is also free to express its ideas and opinions. At times, the information shared by them creates panic amongst the general public. Certain news such as that related to the activities of different communal groups has even given rise to communal riots in the past. This disrupts the peace and harmony of society.

The Internet has augmented the Freedom of Speech and Expression. The advent of social media platforms has furthered it all the more. People these days are eager to give their views on anything and everything whether they have knowledge about the same or not. They write hateful comments without caring if they are hurting someone’s feelings or intruding in someone’s personal space. This can certainly be termed as the misuse of this freedom and must be stopped.

Conclusion

Every country must provide the Freedom of Speech and Expression to its citizens. However, it must be defined clearly so that it only helps in bringing about positive changes in the individuals as well as the society and does not disrupt its normal functioning.

Essay 4 (600 words)

Introduction

Freedom of Speech is given to citizens of most countries to enable them to share their ideas and provide their opinion on different matters. It is considered to be essential for the growth of an individual as well as society. While most countries provide this freedom to its citizens, many refrain from it.

Many Countries Offer Freedom of Speech

Not only India many countries around the world offer Freedom of Speech and Expression to their citizens. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights incorporated in the year 1948 states:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

South Africa, Sudan, Pakistan, Tunisia, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, New Zealand, Europe, Denmark, Finland and Republic of China are among some of the countries that offer Freedom of Speech and Expression to their citizens.

Now, while these countries have given the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression to their citizens however the degree to which this right is rendered to the general public and media differs from country to country.

Countries that Do Not Have Freedom of Speech

There are countries that do not give the right to Freedom of Speech to their citizens to maintain absolute control. Here is a look at some of these countries:

1. North Korea: The country does not provide Freedom of Speech and Expression to its citizens as well as the media. Thus, the government does not only hold the freedom to express one’s ideas and opinions but also holds information from its citizens.
2. Syria: The government of Syria is known for its tyranny. People here are deprived of their basic human rights that is the right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.
3. Cuba: Yet another country that doesn’t provide Freedom of Speech to its citizens. The citizens of Cuba are not allowed to pass any negative comments on the activities of the government or any political party. The government here has even put a restriction on internet usage so that people do not get a chance to express anything via the same.
4. Belarus: This is another country that does not offer Freedom of Speech and Expression. People cannot voice their opinions or criticize the work of the government. Criticism of the government or any political minister is a criminal offense here.
5. Iran: The citizens of Iran are not aware of what it is like to express their opinion and share their ideas freely in the public. Nobody can express any kind of discontentment against public laws or Islamic standards.
6. Burma: The government of Burma is of the opinion that the Freedom of Speech and Expression is unnecessary. The citizens are asked not to express their ideas or opinions particularly if they are against any leader or political party. The media in this country is run by the government.
7. Libya: Most people in this country do not even know as to what Freedom of Speech and Expression really is. The government of Libya is known for oppressing its citizens. In the age of the internet, people around the world are free to express their views on any matter but not in this country. Many people in the country have been arrested for criticizing the government on the internet.

Conclusion

Freedom of Speech and Expression is a basic human right that must be given to the citizens of each country. It is sad to see the way the governments of certain countries do not provide even this essential human right to its citizens and oppresses them to fulfill their own selfish motives.