Was Sonu Nigam merely stating what many in India already feel?


There are high levels of tolerance in this country and somehow everything gets accommodated

People adapt and adjust to the constantly shifting landscape and the new additions in their immediate environment

In a train compartment already packed to capacity, new entrants aren’t greeted with groans

Instead, the incumbents simply make space for the newcomers by shifting and pressing in just a little bit more

Nowhere is this accommodative tendency more visible than in the realm of religion

Most Indian towns have temples, mosques, gurudwaras and churches in close proximity to one another and people of all religions go about their business of faith relatively unhindered

 This in a way makes India special

However, when this openness of faith is combined with the tendency to disregard the personal space of others, it can have some side-effects as well

Unfortunately, the pursuit of faith is anything but private in India

In fact, it can be a rather noisy affair

Of all the technological innovations over the years, Indians have embraced the loudspeaker with greatest vigour and deploy it to great effect, especially to proclaim their religious affiliation

The sounds of prayer, originating from an assortment of houses of worship, reverberate all around the Indian landscape early in the morning

Unfortunately, not all of those sounds are melodious or soothing and a lot of it can be outright noise at very high decibels

Just like other aspects of India’s secular democracy, the entire spectrum of religions, sects, and sub-sects present in the country is represented in these loud and intrusive proclamations of faith

So while a peaceful night’s sleep might be disrupted by the sounds of a “jagraata” (a Hindu ritual that includes a vigil, songs and dance that lasts all night) in the neighbourhood, the early morning Azaan will jolt you out of the sweet stupor of the early morning, truly secularism at its best! Despite critics’ accusations of intolerance and majoritarianism, Muslims in India make their presence felt in every way

Broadcasts of prayer are not restricted to the Hindu majority, and mosques compete with great vigour to make themselves heard

It’s a daily affair, and not restricted to festivals or special occasions

The reality of most Indian cities with a sizeable Muslim population is that all the local mosques use loudspeakers, not just for the Azaan but also for their sermons, five times a day

These loudspeakers are usually pretty powerful and their output is virtually impossible to ignore

This problem becomes particularly acute in large and crowded cities like Mumbai or Kolkata where these sounds pierce through the densely packed homes

It is natural for people to feel resentful towards this intrusion into their daily lives

There are many faith-inspired folk as opposed to non-religious folk who are offended by the loud factor

Even in Pakistan, there are thousands of cases lodged against clerics and mosque imams for the volume of the loudspeakers, and more under the National Action Plan (NAP)

Sonu Nigam’s recent outburst on Twitter is a reflection of the growing frustration and perhaps now is a good time to revisit this aspect of life in India

https://twitter

com/sonunigam/status/853758848133242880? https://twitter

com/DIL__war/status/853776446472499204? https://twitter

com/macchandna/status/853765697968762881? https://twitter

com/PoojaB1972/status/854165923623690240? It’s unfortunate that Nigam is facing so much criticism for stating what so many people feel

It is extremely unpleasant to be jolted awake when all you want after a hard day’s work is to sleep peacefully for just a little bit longer

It’s ironic that he would not have to deal with this in a Muslim country like the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

 The mosques in Dubai also have calls to prayer, but they make sure to not overwhelm their surroundings

This is purely a manifestation of discipline and consideration, both of which India sorely lacks

In the face of all the criticism, Nigam has gone ahead and clarified that his position is not against the religion or prayers, but rather the usage of loudspeakers

He also referred to ‘Arti’, or Hindu prayers, on loudspeakers to balance out the perceived prejudice

 In a surprising move, he went one step ahead and shaved his hair in response to a fatwa issued by a cleric in Bengal and asked that the one million bounty be paid to his (Muslim) barber

This upping of the ante is a clear indication that he intends to stick to his stance, comfortable in the knowledge that he enjoys a good amount of public support in this matter

One thing is for sure, Nigam has taken the centre stage once more, this time again for acoustic reasons

There are way too many liberties that are granted in the name of religion

Religious processions can block traffic for hours

The presence of temples or mosques can hold up the construction of roads

One of the enduring memories of my own childhood is the creeping panic of being stuck in a Muharram procession on the way to catch a flight from the Kolkata airport

We nearly missed our flight because a public thoroughfare was blocked for one group’s faith

A little less accommodation is what India needs now

Religion is a private affair and it should not spill over into the public domain

It may still be acceptable if it happens once in a while, but the mark of a civilised society is the care to not infringe on others’ rights while pursuing our own

India needs to take this a little more seriously

Places of worship are meant to offer refuge from the strife of daily life and not add to it

The devout may derive pleasure from these sounds, but they may not be everyone’s cup of tea

If doing away with loudspeakers entirely is difficult, it may be wise to impose caps on their volume

After all, faith lives on in one’s heart and does not need to be proclaimed at top volume for everyone to hear and see

It’s time to take the next step in evolution



Date:22-Apr-2017 Reference:View Original Link