Editorial

SC Ban on Loudspeakers


The omnibus ban by Supreme Court on use of loudspeaker during nights is a well-intended proscription of a source of nuisance in the interest of the comfort, health and general well-being of the citizens. Coming as it does in the wake of noisy celebrations of festivals and expression of private joys in public, the fiat is a welcome step and is likely to ensure restful nights to all those who crave for serenity after a tiring day of work in our humdrum cities. But there are bound to be dissonance on the issue. In fact discordant opinion has already surfaced. Admittedly all such blanket bans do impinge on freedom of worship (playing of bhajans from temples, azan for dawn prayers, call for sehri during Ramadan et al) for some and freedom to carry on livelihood for citizens who work in entertainment (musical nites, qawwali at dargahs, theatre groups and even open air cinema in rural areas) industry.


The fact that amplified voice over loudspeakers disturbs the quietude of nights is uncontestable. But there can be varied opinion with regard to loud voice and music constituting noise. Azan for namaz from the minaret is in the nature of a wake-up call and hardly ever exceeds three minutes. But given the blanket nature of the ban, azan for Fajr (dawn) prayers over loudspeakers is likely to be banned all across the country.


However, the issue requires cool contemplation in an absolutely dispassionate manner. Azan is for sure a compulsory ritual prior to the prayers. But loudspeakers are accretions of recent origin in a society where communities share mixed habitations. It cannot be insisted upon or defended as a religious right of a community, but can be urged as a demand emanating from the dynamics of urban living. The ban however, mainly stems from the rising concern over increasing level of noise pollution and seeks to restore some nightly peace in our chaotic urban centres. It will be futile to argue that any such omnibus fiat is motivated by religious bias. In fact, the SC ruling has mainly come in response to a Public Interest Litigation to seek proscription of drum beating in Mumbai that goes on for weeks during Ganpathy festival. The fiat is more in the interest of people’s right to live (and sleep) in healthy environment rather than curtailment of right to worship by one or the other community. It will therefore be advisable for the community to fall in line with the SC ban and not to insist on exception for the azan from the mosque. In an atmosphere charged with competitive communalism, there would be no dearth of exception seekers. And given the quiet nature of dawn, even the physical call still retains good potential of reaching the ears of the faithful.


In the same vein, Muslims would be better advised to do some soul searching on the issue of altered schedule of life during Ramadan. Use of sirens, amplifiers for taraweeh, drum beating in streets to wake up the faithful and stretching the mats onto the roads during congregations must be avoided. One’s right to pray or live life as it pleases him or her should not lead to encroachment of rights of others. And threat of trampling other’s rights is nowhere more real than in space-short, resource-starved India where public domain is a tight federation of communities.


But more than all these, the community would do well by replacing its enthusiasm to put up an excessive show of religiosity with observance of values. Our rituals are less likely to impress people from other communities if the Muslims are found wanting in key values like generosity, charity, hospitality, integrity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, and creativity. Rituals are for establishing close communion with God. It is better they are kept private. Values ensure a caring society where rights and duties have a directly proportional relationship.