Freedom of expression is a crucial pillar of an independent government; without it, a free society’s constitution is broken, and torture takes place on its ruins. Every person has the right to freely express their opinions, thoughts, and ideas on any issue without fear of being harassed or censored by the government. In the Indian Constitution, Article 19, freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed.

Nationalism, on the other hand, is defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary as “a feeling that people often believe in their country and take pride in them that it is better and more important than other countries” or “a strong desire to unite people who share culture, history, language, and other characteristics to form a separate and independent nation.” “For the exchange of ideas between the right and wrong organizations” Due to the distress, a recent discussion in India pitted freedom of speech and expression against nationalism. The boundary between nationalism and jingoism is frequently blurred, and as a result, they trample on free expression.

‘Freedom of speech’ is a gradually evolving idea in European cognition. The Bill of Rights in England (1698) guaranteed “freedom of expression in parliament.” The statement of human rights and cultures adopted during the French Revolution in 1789 also influenced this concept. In India, the Rowlatt Act of 1919 provided the British government and police considerable powers, including limits on public assemblies, personal rights and freedoms, media and publication control, and so on. Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent civil disobedience movement in the country was inspired by the public’s objection to this act. The right to freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In this view, authority is significant because it promotes the realization of other human rights.

Individual and state-level freedom of expression are both protected. It can be comprehended around and around the world at the individual level, through the free exchange of ideas and information. People have the ability to express themselves irrespective of these rights, and the state protects and ensures them. On the other hand, from the standpoint of a state, freedom of speech becomes critical for the nation’s social, economic, and political growth.

This right allows honest people to administrate in all areas of government, including politics, bureaucracy, the court, and the media. It encourages residents to submit to these checks on a regular basis. Good governance emerges as a result of this process, which encourages public debate and discussion of policies, legislation, and government operations. It aids the transformation of public forums into a marketplace for ideas. It also allows for the implementation of human rights. The state-commissioned public inquiry of media and human rights, as well as the lapse, are highlighted.

Nationalism and freedom of speech and expression can coexist. They do not have to be mutually exclusive. However, red lines have been drawn on both sides. Speech and freedom of expression should not be suppressed by Jingwad or hyper nationalism. Similarly, freedom of expression is prohibited, and it must be compulsory to obey and voice slogans calling for India’s destruction. Finally, Pope John Paul II can be quoted: “Extensive nationalism is now linked to a slew of attacks and human aggressiveness, none of which saves anyone. The problem that we are currently facing has been accepted as reality. Doing is nothing more than a new type of slavery.”