The Sound of Silence

Dear readers, please note that the following thoughts are just an attempt to explore a social trend that I observed and discussed with some of my friends. The opinions are based only on my personal exposure to such situations. Any sort of further insights / feedbacks are welcome.

Sometimes I wonder how the definitions of “easy” and “difficult” have changed over a period of time. Economies are growing, technologies are developing, societies are changing. Are all these changes for good? May be. May be not.

I perfectly respect those who prefer to dance and enjoy themselves in a disco where popular tunes are being played at a rather high volume. (No sarcasm intended here.) India is a free country and everyone has a right to enjoy themselves in a way they would like to.

But do any of you feel that many people now-a-days are taking advantage of this freedom way too much? As it is, in our amazingly secular country, we always find some or the other festivals to celebrate. That’s fine. It’s a matter of somebody’s choice. But then why force others to get affected by the noise pollution due to the fire crackers and loud music? Is India – rural and urban both – becoming a more and more loud country in general? May be a person wants to spend his evenings quietly in his house, minding his own business. But does he get to do that? Of course not. When there are such beautiful songs being played on a loudspeaker in a procession nearby, he should rather listen to those songs and cheer his boring self up, shouldn’t he?

There was a time when the technology was not so advanced. When I say “there was a time”, I don’t mean the 1970’s. As far as I remember, even when I was about 12-13 years old, various up-to-date electronic instruments of that time were not available so easily, definitely not so cheaply. Loudspeakers, parties were limited to a few occasions such as annual gatherings, Ganeshotsavs, Diwalis etc. So, those who preferred a quieter life also had a ball during these times, since it brought a good break in their routine. Otherwise they could live their life in their own way. Leading a simple life without too many such distractions around was easier. Getting all the things required for a big bash of a party was a little difficult.

Now, I believe, things have changed. Due to various developments, getting all the things required for a big celebration is far easier. At least, even if not easier, people will go out of their way to somehow arrange it. And so what if we don’t have enough money to arrange a D.J. for the festival? No worries. It is a festival/pooja/marriage after all and we have to enjoy it by dancing till late night on latest dance numbers. We will collect (rather pressurize the people to pay) extra money and make sure that the best possible sound system is available. It is our right by constitution to express our joy or our devotion to god. If anyone has an exam / has become too old / is sick: Sorry boss, none of our problem. You yourself should have taken care about that!!!

Another worrying fact about this, I believe, is the frequency at which all this is increasing day by day. However small the event may be, a celebration is becoming a must. If they organize it in a closed hall, fine, at least it doesn’t disturb others. But in reality, these dance parties / jam-sessions take place in absolutely any sort of available open space, thereby making such events even more “accessible” and “enjoyable” to others.

And all this makes life of the fellas like me a little more uncomfortable.

You may call me old fashioned, but I am one of those people who love long quiet evenings. I would like to take a stroll around, chat up with a few friends. I love tranquility (Little too much to expect in a city like Mumbai, I know, but still). I would like to watch some interesting film. I would like to enjoy a raga played by Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasiya on flute. I would rather quietly focus on my work rather than find an excuse to go out and party. By work, I don’t mean the sort of work we do to earn a living. By work, I mean something I am passionate about. Something I would do no matter what. But sadly, just when you have reached your home, somebody nearby starts performing some religious ritual, followed by yada yada yada… the usual stuff goes on. Such times I really “bless” them a lot!

When I think about this, it seems to me that various things (for e.g. different electronic instruments, communication media, availability of finance) which were more difficult to get about 10 years back are now becoming far easier to get. I think that the reason doesn’t lie only in the technology becoming cheaper and widely available. It also lies in the general social trend which is forcing people indirectly to engage into such events.

On the other hand, a thing such as having one’s quiet personal space, which should be (and which in fact was) such a plain simple thing to have, has become so damn difficult!

I think a key factor which influences the above is the economic prosperity and the change in the concept of freedom in our society in last few years. Because of the post-globalization growth in India, people are having more personal disposable income. This extra income is allowing them relatively more party-time. And I somehow feel that once people are getting the taste of such parties, they are starting to grab every opportunity for a party. When they see more and more people around them participating in the same, they get encouragement and start caring less and less whether they are disturbing anybody else while enjoying themselves.

On a very personal note, I think that all this may well be the reason why India is still a developing country and not a developed country. Shouldn’t the parties and festivals be a break from work rather than a regular activity? Or at least shouldn’t one respect the other people’s choice of a life without the disturbance of noise pollution? If people continue allocating more resources for such things rather than contributing in their own field of work / allowing others to contribute in their respective fields, I feel our journey towards the status of a developed nation is going to be very slow – just like the amazingly enjoyable processions we so often come across!