Stop use of loudspeakers

Sir,

Now a days we oftenly and repeatedly come across instances here and there in the localities where in people endeavour to demonstrate their intense religious faith and sentiment with the help of loud speakers installed atop their houses/places of worship not only in the day but during the night as well singing at a very high volume.

This is not in goodtaste and smacks of religious bigotry are religious violence, religion is purely a personal affair. It needs no exhibition before others. It is to be reflected through ones thoughts and actions. Every one of us, by nature, has a religious instinct which is required to be satisfied through the choicest way of worship. It is meant for selfpurification, perfect harmony of body and mind and the ultimate self realization, By virtue of vulgar demonstration of our religious sentiments through loud speakers and other modern musical instruments, We knowingly or unknowingly commit serious offences against the society.

Scientifically speaking the loudspeaker braying in full velocity cause sould and noise pollution. They also cause public nuisance and disturb the mental and spiritual harmony of the people around. Old and the sick get harassed in the night. Student suffer serious interruption in their studies. This is not in conformity with rules and norms of human decency. It is the duty of all of us to behave in a manner that becomes instrumental in providing comfort and solace to other fellow citizens.

A man who follows the religious practices is a devotee and believed to be more sensitive and responsive towards the miseries and discomforts of others. It is therefore urged upon all the communities to desist from such practices.

There should be no negative competition in making use of loud speakers to preach their religious teachings from the places of worship. Individuals should also ensure that they do not disturb the peace of others while organising Jagrans in the night through loudspeakers. Instead they should sit together to practise meditation for imbibing the teaching of deities. This will be the greatest service to the humanity.

Yours etc...
P C Sharma
Trikuta Nagar,
Jammu.

Interactions in English

Sir,

I got an opportunity to evaluate the newly introduced English Text book for III grade children, presented by Elementary School Teachers of the far flung belts of Ramnagar Block while conducting Communicative Language Teaching Orientation Course in English at Boys Higher Secondary School Udhampur, during August last year. They complained that the above cited book was beyond the comprehension level of the children, especially or rural belts, where English alphabets are taught to first grade children. While having a review I also found certain high sounding vocabulary items like "Monuments, amazed, sniffing", with typical linguistic structures like.... he was amazed to see.... (a typical passive structure with infinitive verb). There are certain good brain jogging language exercises like formation of adverbs by adding ''by'' but on the whole the book suits to the tastes of the children of elite families of the Public Schools of Delhi. How can the children of rural belts comprehend typical language themes and vocabulary items, where most of the time English is taught through mother tongue? How better it would have been if the title of the lesson "Delhi-The city of Monuments" would have been replaced by "Delhi- the city of old historical buildings" and the vocabulary items like "amazed replaced by surprised" and "Sniffing by Smelling deeply.

I am reminded of a great English literary figure, Prof. Rundoph Quirk, former Head of English Deptt. Oxford University who was invited by the Indian Government, to present a survey Report of ELT in Indian schools in early sixties of the last century. While assessing the standards of English in Higher Secondary Schools and colleges of India, he remarked that the students of eleventh class (11th class) who are hardly able to read and write in plain English, have been asked to study Shakespeare and Keats. Such is the case with III grade English Book framed by BOSE authorities without taking into confidence, the teachers at the grass root level. Close ended linguistic structures have not been introduced keeping in view the psychology of language learning with graded and guided vocabulary and linguistic patterns of a foreign language.

Yours etc...
K L Dhar
40 Ustad Mohalla,
Jammu.