I read a story in Indian Express newspaper, which talks about communal tension in a village in Western Uttar Pradesh, India because of loudspeakers from a temple.
I am aware of several such examples in India over the years. It is not just one off.
If you think about it, and use logic, you will start questioning the use of loudspeakers from such places. Why do we need loudspeakers from any place of worship? One of my friends , Ravi Bhatia, made a light-hearted, but brilliant, comment in my Facebook wall saying, “agreed. God is not deaf”. Another friend, Yogi Chouhan, made a very reflective comment that “God is usually found in silence”.
Outside use of loudspeakers is not needed because,
1. it can cause, and has caused, communal troubles in the past,
2. it also causes sound pollution,
3. it disturbs sleep and consequent harming of physical health of people,
4. it causes hearing damage,
4. it become a real nuisance to students during their exam times.
I remember vividly how I was disturbed by blaring sound of Devi Jagran overnighters and loud sound of Aazans from nearby mosques when I was in India.
Devotees of any religion do not need reminders from loudspeakers. If they are true followers of their religions, they will remember when to go to their temples or mosques. They will remember what they have to do as part of their religion. Religion is a private matter between us and our God, and it should remain this way!
Just in case you do not know, no Western country allows use of loudspeakers in the manner it is in India!
Why do people who are not from a particular religion need to be forced to hear the religious sounds and sermons from that religion?
Places of worship can use loudspeakers inside the premises (if needed), but not outside.
Indian Govt should ban them for outside use and enforce the ban effectively and without any exception, favour, bias or discrimination.
Let this become a part of new India, which practises true secularism, not only in spirit but also in letters!
Let this become part of “Achchhe Din” (Good days) for India!
