I tell my daughter that freedom means to make your own choice, says Chhavi
While her one-year-old son Arham is too young, actor Chhavi Mittal says that it’s her daughter Areeza (7) who is always full of questions. While schools do their bit in educating chidlren about important events such as Independence Day, Mittal shares that as a parent, her efforts are driven towards explaining to her kids the meaning of freedom and importance of August 15.
“I tell Areeza that freedom means to make your own choice and not being forced to do something. But before making that choice, you must be ready to face the consequences. I also tell her stories from our freedom struggles, the importance of ahimsa (non-violence),” she tells us.
Stating that kids are super sensitive, she insists one needs to be careful of their words with them. “I can’t talk to her about the bloodshed, aggression and agitation of freedom struggle. The severity of those incidents might affect her young mind. So both Mohit (Hussein; her husband, a content creator and director) and I focus more on the work done by our freedom fighters,” shares the actor.
Much like other kids, she says that her daughter loves singing the National Anthem. “She understands that the
Shreya Mukherjee
Tricolour represents India and that we should do everything possible to make our nation proud,” adds Mittal, who is also a content creator.
Sharing her own idealogy behind celebrating I-Day, she believes that while people set several goals for themselves, they rarely think about the bigger problems the world is facing. “We can’t close our eyes to issues like poverty, corruption, water crisis, etc.
This Independence Day, we should pledge to find out ways to be a part of the much-needed change in society and rid it of all sorts of discrimination. And most importantly, start respecting Nature. I’m teaching my children all these, but in a way that they would understand,” she asserts.
Given the pandemic, this year, the I-Day celebration plans would be different for the family. “Since community celebration of flag hoisting and singing the National Anthem won’t be happening, we would be attending a virtual celebration that Areeza’s school is organising. This would be a new experience for us,” says Mittal, adding how the Covid-19 crisis has made us respect freedom more than before and hence, “we must reevaluate our lives”.