India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. India’s beauty lies in its diversity. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and people from other faith have freedom to practice and propagate their religion. India was and will be a secular country. Being a country with a population of more than 1 billion, India has faced enormous challenges and hurdles since its independence. The biggest challenge was unity and harmony among people. Religion has been the most sensitive issue in India and people here are ready to die for the honor of their religion. Everyone is very emotionally attached to their religion and nobody accepts any kind of amendment or changes in its practices or faith. There are over 2 million temples, 3 lakh mosques, and thousands of Churches in India which makes India the biggest home of diverse religious places. But recently there is a growing call to ban loudspeakers in any religious places. Many people have file petitions against the use of loudspeakers. Is any such ban needed in a diverse country like India?. Does freedom of speech or religious freedom vanishing from India slowly? Does a ban on Loudspeaker makes any sense?.
In Mosques, loudspeakers are used to recite azaan which is a call to prayer for all Muslims. Azaan is recited 5 times a day and it takes 3 minutes to complete the azaan. Though it is not mandatory to recite the azaan using mike and loudspeakers, but this has been in practice for a long time. Though it is part of religious freedom, A ban on loudspeakers in the mosque will not affect Muslims and Muslims can recite azaan without loudspeaker.
Loudspeakers are also used in Temples across India and everyday bhajans, devotional songs are recited and all the devotees recite arati. Loudspeakers are also used in many festivals like Ganesh Utsav, Navratri where devotees play Garba. Use of Loudspeaker is important in Temples and other Hindu festivals.
Singer Sonu Nigam started a controversy when he tweeted against the use of loudspeakers for the early morning Azaan (the Muslim call for prayer). Since then, netizens have been divided on this controversial issue with celebs, such as, Saif Ali Khan, Javed Akhtar, Shaan, Kailash Kher expressing their opinion on it. But, are we aware what the Indian judiciary has to say about using loudspeakers in public places?
The Supreme Court held that the Court may issue directions in respect of controlling noise pollution, even if such noise was a direct result of and was connected with religious activities. It said, “Undisputedly, no religion prescribes that prayers should not be performed by disturbing the peace of others nor does it preach that they should be through voice amplifiers or beating of drums. In a civilized society in the name of religion, activities which disturb old or infirm persons, students or children having their sleep in the early hours or during daytime or other persons carrying on other the rule. It will be difficult to enforce restriction.”
Thus, this issue is very controversial and will disturb the peace and harmony. Let religious leaders and government decide what is better.
Yukti Kumar @ Samacharline