While, globally everybody is talking about Carbon Foot Prints, why not share a little thought on ‘Noise Foot-Prints’; every bit of sound generated in this universe is a permanent wave (foot print), that is never going to perish; un-audible may be, because of dispersion of the sound wave the farther it travels, leading to decrease of sound decibels below the levels of human audibility.

Before we proceed, I just recollected an old Mewari saying in the honor of Saint Bhuri Bai:

Chup Sadhan, Chup Sadhya Hai,

Chup, Chup Ma Hi Samaayi Hai,

Chup Samjhya Ki Samajh Hai,

Samjhya Chup Wayi Jaye Hai!

A rough translation of the above is as follows:

Silence is the Means, Silence is the Meditation

Silence can only be found in Silence,

Silence is the Wisdom of the Wise,

And, the One who understands keeps Silent.

Have we ever looked back at our Noise Footprints? What are the various noises we produce? We talk and shout at times, we make other sounds like, laughter, sneeze etc., we ride our vehicles, etc. and all these sounds we generate are the marks we leave behind in the course of our lives.

Some sounds are part of our daily routine and in fact we are so much used to these noises that we have actually forgotten the meaning of silence.

Global societies in distant past created places for silence, according to a viewpoint these religious places, like Mosques, Temples, Churches etc. were constructed for people to go there and meditate, relax or pray in silence.

However, in current scenario we go to these places of silence only on religious occasions or for social gatherings when it is crowded with all sorts of people talking (sound), chanting via loud speakers (sound), people drive to these religious/social places via their vehicles’ (sound), vendors selling praying accessories and other stuff (sound); thus where is silence?

In this loud surrounding when did we last enjoy the sound of air whispering through the leaves of trees, sound of chirping birds, when did we hear the sound of silence? Then, how can we hear God?

In this loud surrounding there are innumerable sounds that go unheard. Animals getting road killed, sound of grief and sorrow, sound of breaking dreams and sound of distorting beliefs, all goes unheard because of the man made noises and over all this loud surrounding is a key ingredient of increasing crime.

This evolution of human mind and the so called development by humans is constructive or destructive? Are humans actually happy evolving to cyborgs?

I see the human today as a musk deer, who bears the sweet fragrance within himself, but seeks it outside of himself, throughout the life and never finds it.

Before I close, I would to share an incident when I was at a social gathering of a friend marriage and as I stood under a tree enjoying the coffee, there arrived the Baraat (wedding procession) with a welcoming firework (loud noise). The very moment I was shocked, as a newborn of a Brahminy Myna or Brahminy Starling fell off dead because of the shock wave of that loud noise. In middle of the loud marry making there died an innocent bird, and it went unheard.

Initiatives should be taken; like “Earth-Hour” let’s have “Silent-Hour”. Let’s consider and re-consider the Noise Footprints we are leaving behind. Let’s consider the way we celebrate our festivals; tonight on the eve of Deepawali, you can make a difference.

In the end I would like to quote the words of a song by Simon & Garfunkel

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made

And the sign flashed out its warning

In the words that it was forming

And the sign said, “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls

And whispered in the sounds of silence”