Loud and clear
More than the argumentative Indian, we are characterized by our quality to be loud Indians. We do not let go of any opportunity to be loud. Be it birth, death, festival, wedding, anything on this planet, it is meant to be celebrated with the customary dance drama. So, we have loud music playing at parties that go beyond midnight. Bhajans playing from early morning to late at night are a normal occurrence if you live in Bangalore or for that matter anywhere in India. And oh, no point in complaining to the cops. Yeh, Bhagwan ka maamla hai, after all! Swalpa adjust maadi :).Firecrackers are burst for umpteen festivals, cricket wins or some totally frivolous reason. If you are faint at heart, then some of the loud bombs may end up sending you to the Emergency Room.
Have a cellphone, will talk… loudly! — seems to be a common mantra these days. Also, have you noticed the really loud ringtones on cellphones ranging from aartis to latest movie hits in all languages. Maybe the owners wish to ensure that if you are not remembering your God, this will be an opportunity to amend your atheist behavior. The most annoying phone calls are the ones overheard in movie theaters, hospitals and schools. Despite glares from others, some people persistently continue to chat nonchalantly on their phone. I have seen a gentleman take a call in an airplane when everyone is supposed to switch off their phones. Come on, rules are not meant to be followed! Don’t you know who I am?In the train, on the bus, during meetings, during walks, and in the park, the ubiquitous cellphone and the loud talker are omnipresent. So much so that we have a portly neighbor who ensures that when he has to blast his employees/clients, he comes out of the house and uses choicest language loudly so that all within a mile can hear him! And another neighbor, a lady has no qualms in yelling at the risk of bursting her lungs. To add to our horror, she always keeps her windows open for that Dolby sound effect.
So, whether someone is sick and ailing or just plain disturbed, there is nothing much that one can do but grin and bear it. And, I have also noticed that, in general, our kids are noisier. Is it because, we have become immune to all the noise pollution around us? Have you seen how the teachers and mothers yell at their kids (including yours truly)? Is it because the child will not bat an eyelid otherwise? Whichever way, we are very happy with all the noise that we live with.. Talk loudly and yell no matter where and for what reason! This is our desi-bel at its best.
The right to make noise may not be a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of India, but we seem to be doing a great job of claiming it happily and wholeheartedly :).
Could not agree with you more, Rachna! We behave only when someone enforces things down our throat like when most live/ travel abroad. At home, making noise is synonymous with birth right!
You are absolutely right, Rahul. I realized how crazy this behavior was only when I stayed abroad.
Not only are they loud, they’re also a bunch of idiots who are insensitive about the ears of the general public. I mean, why in the world would I want to know about the love-life of the girl sitting next to me in the train or about what all that aunty gets done in the beauty parlour? Seriously! If you’re getting bored during a journey, listen to music or read a book. Why torture the rest of the commuters by talking over the phone so loudly! And some of them play music also loudly, as though they’re doing everyone else a favour by making them listening to tacky horrible songs. Aaarghh!
Exactly, my point! Who cares about what they are saying to their girlfriend, mom, employee. Please spare my ear. Yes and playing that loud music in a public place without headphones should be punished with whipping.
Yeah making noise means we have arrived. Very much agree with you. You want to show you are right, make noise 🙂
🙂 Clearly misplaced sense of importance for some people.
I wholly agree with you.I traveled in train from Kolkata to Delhi.One European lady called her son Paul who was playing in the aisle.No one could hear her calling save Paul.he came immediately and sat by her side.Etiquette and civic sense are to be taught at home and parents should be role models themselves.We are a loud nation and loudspeakers blare at every public and private function late into nights.
I was taking leave of my relatives at 10pm in soft voice in an aopartment complex and I heard some American lady gently telling from her window”Shhhh,softly please,silence” I imagined the scene in India
So true! And, we seem to be yelling and screaming and the child still behaves deaf. I guess, we have to try at home. I must admit that I am guilty of yelling at my kids too but never publicly.
Rachna , I second you in every part of this post. We take “Being Loud” for more than granted. Being loud at each and every possible ocassion – be it a wedding ceremony or a sad funeral – music has to happen.
Thank you, Ashwini! Isn’t it true of all regions in India?
I completely agree with you .Look at our TV anchors ,constant honking on roads .
absolutely, Kavita! Looks like we are so excitable that we yell at every possible opportunity.
That honking drives me completely crazy. I don’t know why the driver behind incessantly honks when there is no place to go. Sometimes, they do it at a traffic signal. I mean, what do they want us to do — fly?
Ooops I am so guilty of it, the loud music I have it blasting when i am driving to and from work .. but then it is all motorway drive no houses around ..
I am not loud in any other phase , but thanks for putting this I will make sure I dont have the music blaring near people ..
Bikram’s
Yes, as long as you do it in your car with the windows down or when not causing inconvenience to anyone else, it is fine. Most times, we don’t realize what a nuisance we are to others.
I think we don’t have this ‘civilized tag’ to go with any of our natural emotions.We are almost free of all that kinda guilt.The only thing we may disagree is on crossing the limits.
Yes, we are pretty uncivil in most ways. But, it is disheartening that even the best among us don’t try.
You are right..loud music in cars, incessant honking and musical reversing horns..awwww!
Such a pain!
‘we have become immune to all the noise pollution around us?’
i liked it most. it make me to muse. In foreign a loud noise can be the reason for arrival of cops but here, it is ‘just common’. It is in blood for some. we can’t do much till people muse about it.
We can do something by not contributing if we are conscious about it :). Thanks for stopping by, vinayak.
Absolutely agree with you!
🙂
It’s plain torture. Hearing word after agonizing word of loud details, love-talk, obscenities, fake laughter and what not! I often wonder how the person at the other end of the phone sits through the ordeal. May be they too are a similar specimen. Go knows! Irritating to say the least! A great post as always 🙂
Thank you! hehe I also wonder how the person at the other end tolerates the screaming monster :).
Good blog rachana keep going….
rosesandgifts.com
Thank you.
I am guilty. My husband and son both say that I yell too much :)At them that is 😉
hehe I am in the same boat as you :). I am trying though!
I fully agree with you. I can’t stand the constant honking of the volvo buses, as if they have some life/ death matter to attend.
People are least concerned to follow no honking rules when they are near hospitals. The noise pollution in India is too much.
Yes, just unbearable. I am tired of it.
I may not generlise this,but, for sure North Indians are very loud by character,they are agressive,they drive crazy,the celebrate loud.
Yes, but those in the South are quite bad too. Though, their marriage functions are definitely not as elaborate and noisy, the driving, the festivals, the poojas are the same.
I totally agree with u I have seen foreign kids are more noisy than our Desi kids 🙂 but some times noise is good but only sometimes 😉
No, I meant Indian kids are noisier than foreign kids :). Sometimes, sure we all like to do hungama.
its very true..Desi’s are considered to be loud and they are loud….
no doubts in that!
as of Americans or any other nationalities..every kind of people are everywhere ..and in the same way…loud Arabic people who are same as indians ..they speak so much non-stop and very loud .. sometimes reminds me of india and jeweller shop where ladies talk non-stop.I guess its same kind of culture…
But I love that noise and hustle n bustle ..it makes it lively :p
Noise is not good on a sustained, day-to-day level. Since you don’t live in India, you don’t seem to feel the pinch. We have to tolerate this incessant noise everywhere and it gets bothersome!
Loud Indians! Ha we are ofcourse..It’s probably in our DNA and in our blood 😉
There’s a tradition in chennai if a person dies, while carrying the deadbody till the graveyard they play band (local drum), dance, whistle and have fun! I could hear that music/noise even when I close all the windows in my house. And during the festive season, the auto stand constantly put jarring songs. This particularly happens during the half yearly exam season!
How charming, during half-yearly exam :). Yes, looks like making noise is a common phenomenon all around the country.
Very true. Our kids are also noisier. Only yesterday an elderly gentleman was quarreling with children who were playing football in the garden who were shouting at the peak of their voice.
Thank you Sir for your visit and your comment. Kids are so noisy and so are their mothers.
Loud Indians we are indeed!! I’ve studied abroad and yes,Indians are all about drama ,chaos and chit chatter!! 🙂 They love spice.Be it on Bollywood or off it! It’s just becoming our signature style.You are so correct Rachna :)You couldn’t have put this more better! 🙂
Thank you Jen! It is in our DNA as many have pointed out.
Hmm… Arre… It is everyone’s Birthright. But some fight for it more than others. 🙂 Just the other day, we were in a movie hall and it was a Matinee show. Not much of a crowd. But there were a row full of bachelors in front of us and a huge family in the seats behind us. It was like sitting in a fish market. At least the bachelors had the decency to keep quiet when the movie was on. The couples behind were giggling and talking well into the movie and the kids, mashallah….what noisy creatures they had. NO, my kids never make noise during movies, they are movie buffs like me and watch with full concentration. 😀
hehe I can imagine your experience 😉
Tagged you Rachna .. have a look
http://mannbikram.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/tag-the-eleven-questions-became-33-for-me/
Bikram’s
Thank you! I will visit soon and pick up the tab :).
Cell phones used to bother me but I don’t even hear them anymore 🙂
hehe You have been to India. You must know how bad it can get. I have lived in the US, and I have seen how well behaved people are :).
For some reason, when I am in India, (Indian) people dial my phone then hang up right away. Then later they ask, hey did you get my “missed call”?… I think missed calls mean something else in India, like “call me” or some such?
You lived in the US? Where?
hehe Yes, that used to be an ingenious way of saving money for the thrifty or those hard up on cash. They would call up a person and hang up after a couple of rings. The person on the other end is supposed to call back saving them the money. But these days, with the tariffs being pretty low, this phenomenon has really gone down :). I lived in California, in the Bay Area for a couple of years from 2000 to 2002. Loved my stay there :).
And my complex is right across the club. We have to put up with Karaoke nights, loud em cees, Holi celebrations with Rang Barse playing in a loop. Arrrrgh!!!
Oh my God, you must be suffering like crazy!
My hosp arranged an accomod near a religious place last year. With their conical speaker facing my building, I could hardly manage to stay there for one full day.
Thank you for the suggestion to improve my blog. I’ve modified it as you said.
Ah, what agony for you. And, you are welcome. I visited your blog. It looks nicer, don’t your think? 🙂
When people talk so loudly all the time (and it isn’t only Indians), blast their music at us or honk their horns incessantly, are they, in a way conveying that they don’t care for whatever opinion we might have of them? That they will do whatever they jolly well please? That they, and only they, are the centre of the universe and we are insignificant nobodies in it? Noise pollution is not just inconsideration for others, it is harmful for their own ears and surroundings. Good topic Rachana.
True KayEm. But Indians have a disdain for following rules and generally are a very noisy species. We hardly have an understanding of public and private domains, and we tend to extend our comfort outside our home much to the detriment of others.
hey i am also a culprit in loud voice..but promise to reduce the volume…rachnaaaa..can u hearrr meeeeeee?
hehe Ramesh :). I certainly can’t hear you. I am almost deaf in both ears ;-).
With that sort of volume, the cell phone seems almost superfluous does it not? 🙂 I mean, the voice probably reaches the other guys even without it 🙂
You are absolutely right, Suresh! All they need to do is yell and save their cellphone bills :).
What? I can’t hear you, darling. For that matter I can’t even hear myself lately – I tend to speak softly and it frustrates me when I can’t hear my own voice because of someone near me on their phone. Put me and such person on a tram – in order to be heard over the tram noise, they up the volume. What am I supposed to do, use earplugs? And on the topic of cultural noises – my ‘next-desk’ colleague is Polynesian and loves to drink his tea slurping it. Ah, the joy!
Just like me, you must be going deaf too :). I don’t think I am capable of hearing whispers or low tones anymore. Seriously, it is so bugging that everyone loves to talk or make noise loudly. hehe about your colleague. I have a noise pollutant in the bedroom. G loves to snore :). Even in sleep I have no peace.
I also hate it when people speak loudly in office disturbing everyone around them There are conference rooms, but they refuse to use them. Cell phones are never on silent and they talk loudly in them all the time. Indians and etiquettes don’t go together I am afraid !
Yes, so true, Ruchira, offices and meetings also. I don’t know why it is fashionable for us to speak so loudly. Seriously, we are an extremely uncivilized breed of people.
Really, why ARE we like this? Perhaps the Indian gene makes us partially deaf at birth – it’s just that no scientist has bothered to verify this yet? Maybe I am on to something here…. 🙂
I wrote something around the same topic based on a movie going experience…will PM you the link. I think you will enjoy reading it!
Yes, I definitely think you are on to some theory there :). It could revolutionize genetics. That could be the only explanation of this bizarre trait of ours. I do remember that movie going post of yours unless you have written more than one. Sure send me the link. Your posts are always fun reads!
Rachna, have you heard the song by Carly Simon “You’re so vain”. It just sums it up Wait – let me find a link …http://youtu.be/mQZmCJUSC6g
haha Ritu!
Well written
This is the reason an more scared of crowds or gatherings even if they are fun at times . Once in hyd in our apt a lady used to come from the other wing and talk at the grill of our main entrance . May b it’s a secret call and may be she just has no common sense
Once I looked in to her face keenly eye to eye with why ru barging into our private space kinda glare . She didn’t come from next day
Some times I fall down to their levels if it’s very inconvenient , the other times ., well I too grin and bear 🙂
hehe Good for you :). Sometimes, one puts them in place. And at other times, one just sighs and bears it.