What makes India special is the fact that it has always had multiple traditions of written and oral, text-based and homespun ideas that have been deep and thought-provoking, creative and exquisitely beautiful. The tradition of freedom of speech is not something we invented today. Enshrined in our Constitution it is a reflection also of the millions of men and women through history who have spoken freely and strongly against injustice whenever they saw it. This is what is under threat today.