It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere.

Jean Jacques Rousseau, the great philosopher and writer of his times, said, "Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains." By this he meant that though 'freedom' is a person's birthright but society puts numerous restrictions on a person. And, the great French historian and writer, Voltaire replied to him, saying, "It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere."

With this, he meant that humans have become so habituated of restrictions that they cannot do without these "chains" that hold them back, but still they love these chains! People have started believing and accepting the "status quo". Humans have started "worshipping" the chains and it is very difficult to free someone's mind that has become comfortable with the chains.

For instance, humans very well know, that CLIMATE CHANGE is real! Global warming is alarming. International organizations and powerful as well as less powerful countries show concerns towards such a crucial subject. Ice caps and glaciers are melting, and in the future, coastal cities would submerge in the rising sea level! But unless and until, humans make efforts at the individual level, big changes cannot be expected. Small efforts like planting trees, careful disposal of waste, avoiding wastage of water and electricity, using public transportation , can result in big changes! But some people are FOOLS who think that efforts made at micro level, cannot be fruitful. Of course, the CHAINS of luxuries and comforts hold them back. Easy access to resources like water, electricity don't make them understand the hardships that people go through who are deprived of such necessities.

Another instance which highlights the existence of some practices in Indian society. Practices like child marriage, sati pratha, social isolation of widows, parda pratha have existed in Indian society since ages! It was only in the nineteenth century efforts were made by our social reformers like "Raja Ram Mohan Roy" "Swami Vivekananda" "Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar" to improve the degraded social condition of women. British Government passed legislation to abolish the evil practice of "Sati". But some FOOLS, even in the twenty first century, when our India is all set to compete with the giant powers of the world, think that practices like child marriage, social isolation of widows are a part of Indian culture and tradition! Thankfully, no cases of sati, are seen now. It clearly states that it is hard to free FOOLS from the CHAINS they worship. Here, the chains of tradition has restricted modern era woman to hold a dignified place in the society.

One more instance, which highlights that some people keep their views, ideas and beliefs over peace and harmony of the people around them. These are the FOOLS who are chained in "misconceptions" and "pre conceived notions". These people try to establish that their community is superior than the other in each and every way. They, with their actions destroy the communal peace and harmony of the society. Muzzafarnagar communal riots and many more, clearly states that some people are FOOLS who love to find themselves in the CHAINS of aggression and hatred towards another community.

On the larger front we find the world under major crisis due to "global terrorism". Non state actors like the islamic state of Iraq and Syria, Taliban, Al Qaeda have risen due to the misinterpretation of religion, and they keep spreading the misinterpretation around, to radicalise the youth. These FOOLS believe that by the use of "terror" they can establish their religious ideology over the world. These fools are restricted in the CHAINS of false notions of 'superiority' exclusiveness about one's own concept of religion, false promises of posthumous rewards in heaven, false justification of violence and hatred.

But, it is of worth mentioning that are people actually the FOOLS or fooled by others? There might be many cases where people take undue advantages of someone's ignorance, this might lead the latter to be in chains which hold him back. In this world, if good people are found, then bad ones also exist, who, by their unethical practices fool others and mitigate their development. For instance, huge population in India has deep and undying faith in religion. Hence, it naturally becomes easy for "anti social elements" to influence these religious people. And these people, then in the wake of the influence, spread communal harmony and harsh feelings towards one another. Thus, it is to be noted that FOOLS do not always CHAIN themselves, but sometimes others take their advantage and CHAIN them out of ignorance and innocence.

So, is it really HARD to free FOOLS from the CHAINS they revere? Voltaire did say it is hard but NOT IMPOSSIBLE . "Enlightenment" can help the FOOLS, because an ignorant person is more likely to be influenced by others, is more likely to fall in love with the CHAINS that hold him back and isolate him from social freedom. The spread of "quality education" is the need of the hour, because of which humans would start thinking beyond individual benefits and work for the betterment of mankind. Every person should be made "aware" that following and believing in religion is a good thing, but degrading and hurting someone else's ideology and beliefs is unethical. We all humans should believe in peaceful co existence and respect each others' thoughts.

Hence, what Voltaire said, " It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere" is absolutely correct and relevant. But is upto the humans who are establishing themselves as FOOLS to make efforts and break the CHAINS that impede their holistic development. By this, the humane qualities of love, affection and respect would be cherished! The small contributions made by them would make this world a beautiful place to live in.