WHEN THE NOISE ENDS...

 



“There is a world of practical religion

in simply being considerate of others.”

Roger Babson

 

When we are solely concerned about our own happiness and success, we become not only blind and deaf, we also become dumb… heartless, stones. I remember one such incident when I had become one…

It was 1991 early January month. I was 33, young and unmarried. Sorry, I was married to ‘The Dawn Club’ which I had founded just two years before that. I was obsessed with what I was doing in its name. So, a grand entertainment programme, including several dances, a fashion show and an elaborate orchestra was being staged in an open-air ground. The ground was allotted to us by the top-boss of a government organization, whose wife was the chief guest of the day… The music was too, too loud, but the packed ground was having a gala time. Touching the boundary of that ground was the hospital run by the organization… There were several patients inside. The security men came several times to remind us to either keep the noise-level low or shut it down completely. But, because we had the blessings of the top-boss and his chief-guest wife, and because the only thing I and my young organizers seemed obsessed with was the grand success of our own show – we all turned blind, deaf, dumb and heartless, that evening.

Yes, the show was a ‘grand success’, no doubt. But, a few days later, a student of mine, whose mother was one of the patients inside that hospital that night, came to express how nightmarish it was for her and the family!

My eyes, ears and heart – all opened at once. Even though it was a late realization, I was hit hard by St. Francis de Sales’ warning:
“We may be excused for not always being bright. But, we are not  excused for not being gracious, yielding and considerate for others.”



Yes. it should never be all about our own happiness and success… There exists around us a society… the aged and the sick, the little children, the hapless animals and birds…

Why am I remembering this 35-year-old episode, now?

I find, this Diwali, the noise-level of the crackers has been unusually high. Even till late  midnight, for two days, the noise has been loud enough not only  to shatter the windows, but also the weak hearts… There are old and sick, there are little babies, cats and dogs living here, just as there were patients in that hospital when our ‘Rock Show’ was blasting relentlessly, years ago. I do not know, if someone did several rounds to plead or warn… But, the celebration went on, relentlessly…

I hope, just as my student came to open my eyes, ears and heart after it was all over, someone might do it, after a day or two, when it’s all going to be over…




Maybe, I am sounding too hopeful and considerate, here… maybe, too dumb, as well….

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: 1. pixabay 2. Unknown

 

Video: JK Cement Ltd



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