that fword again what is it about freedom that makes bravehearts out of mortal men and women and exiles out of writers and artists absolute freedom is the stuff of dreams in the real world freedom of expression comes at a price taslima nasrin and m f husain are two of south asias best known examples in this regardon friday it was announced that nasrins indian residential permit had been renewed it was in india that she sought refuge after she was banished from her own country 16 years ago till two days ago she did not know if she would have to leave india on august 17 or would be allowed to stay on the bangladeshi writer says the uncertainty is the price of speaking the truth bluntlyi write what i feel what i believe every society across the world has persecuted whoever has done thatwhat of husain the 95yearold painter who must live away from his homeland and take qatari nationality he tells toi in the last 5000 years indian art has never suffered such setbacks as now not even during british rule what does he mean what crimes have nasrin and husain committed that the governments of their home countries have been unable to guarantee them the right to live freely and securely and the right to create perhaps their crime is that people might be offended by thembritish philosopher a c grayling says the right to offence is a major technique used by religious groups social and political satire is one of the healthy features of debate in liberal democracies and so is challenge and criticism efforts to silence people who say things you do not like to hear are regressive and unacceptable grayling says in liberty in the age of terror a defence of civil liberties and enlightenment valuesthe liberty myth author amit chaudhuri and revolutionary poet varavara rao whose writings have roused hundreds to revolt against the system agree that absolute freedom is a myth but its an attractive one says chaudhuri vv as the poet is popularly known says in a society riven by class freedom cannot be absolute even in art and literature my freedom to stretch my hand should stop at your nose it is not that you can put your finger in my eye or i can put my hand in your mouth to crush youpainter wasim kapoor who is currently working on a nude series in his signature surreal and neorealist style believes artists need freedom for full expression of their creativity but one must accept that freedom has its limits kapoor has had his share of runins with protesters offended by his burqa and prostitute series india boasts of a rich tradition of freedom in art sculptures in khajuraho konark or ajanta are eloquent expressions of unbridled artistic freedom he says contrasting it with todays need not to give offence or hurt religious sentimentsthe west has been equally suspicious of those who dared creative experiments not least michelangelo