Right To Make Noise

It feels good to be back, to be writing down blog articles again. I’m sorry about that short break.

Life is a mixture of chaotic noises for everyone. Call it a cacophony. Sometimes meaningless, sometimes it leaves us trying to find it through oblivion, and sometimes, we just have to sit numb and let it hit you hard on the face. Whether to rise up and hit back is your choice.

In Delhi, there was a festival going on where the cults walk for kilometres, playing loud music as they set camp on the roadsides. It lasts for 3 days. And let me tell you, which are three day of torture, three days of ears bleeding and pleading you to run away.

Yea, NOISE POLLUTION. This is something I hate very much. I prefer silence than music at times so you can imagine how irritated I get by loud noises at 2am, night time.

Not just I, but it affects the birds, the nocturnal fauna, it interferes with the chemical signals of plants, insects and hence, it creates imbalance to the already degrading eco-system.

I decided to call the Delhi Police to complain about the nuisance.

Now, according to the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India states that “no loud noises can be played after 10pm” it is backed up by The National Green Tribunal.

It was 2am and the loud music was making my window sill vibrate. As I hit my tolerance level, I Googled for the contact number of the police station nearby me. But, to my extreme dismay, they didn’t pick up. I called for 3 different stations like that.

Finally, I called the national ‘100’. I was received on the other end by a woman who asked about my concern. After reporting it, I was redirected to the nearest expressway police station.

Now, my ability to speak fluent Hindi is very poor. I somehow managed to speak with the police who did not deter from their heavy Hindi. They did many follow-up calls to find the locality and other things and finally, the noise outside reduced after 4am even though it continued till 8am.

On the second day, the noise was very loud, I was fed up and tired, I decided to let it go. I lost my sleep that day.

On the third day, I made calls to the police again. They said that the police force has to control a religious mob, and since the country is India, it is one of the most difficult things. No citizen even musters up the courage to complain about loud music even if they lose their sleep over it. Yet, every citizen has complete right to do so and it is their duty too.

In India, where 90% of the people are religious, they would find it unfair to complain against a ritual done for their “God(s)”.

Yet, I was proud because in the whole of Delhi NCR, I was the only one to complain against this and keep on pushing them to take an action against something India holds too close as culture.

After 3am, the noise got reduced a bit.

I was able to sleep not because the sound was reduced, but because I felt happy I at least tried to do something.

After 2 days, when the festival was over, the police called me and asked if I was satisfied with their help.

Yes, I am. I am also proud that the Indian police are strong.

While many just sit and complain about their country, the government and the police, they don’t realise why it is like that. It is because no one is ready to take up the responsibility to act on it, to point out a mistake and to stand by it. Yes, it’s because complaining is easier.

To conclude, use your Rights, and fight for it and it directly impacts the environment too. And this, this is your Right to make noise.