Famous Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is advertising against firecrackers on Diwali on TV channels on the initiative of a Tyre company. In this ad, he is requesting crores of people of the country not to burst crackers on the streets on the occasion of Diwali. Indiscriminate bursting of crackers not only obstructs traffic on the roads but also spreads pollution and people lose their lives due to explosions. Apart from this, in the name of firecrackers, we make the Chinese cracker-maker companies rich.

These days I feel ashamed watching film-actors endorse advertise underwear and footwear. They start trading their popularity just to earn money. I don’t watch cinema too much but I feel Aamir Khan is a different actor. I want all our actors and actresses to participate in such advertisements, which inspire common people for social reforms like Aamir Khan. This will reduce crime and the burden of government will also be lighter. But it is not appropriate to give a communal colour to the appeal made by Aamir.

The demand of BJP MP from Karnataka Anant Hegde is also justified that voice should also be raised against the noisy ‘Azaan’ on loudspeakers in mosques. I want to say that just like the Hindu owner of Ceat Tyres took initiative against the crackers on Diwali, some Muslim businessman should come forward and take the initiative against loud Azaan. Aamir should himself come forward.  

The Supreme Court has already capped the noise of Azaan and banned loudspeakers from 10 pm to 6 am. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. Several restrictions have been imposed last week itself there. I myself have lived in about 15-20 Muslim countries. I have never heard any type of noises in these countries apart from one or two places. 52 years ago in the city of Herat, Afghanistan, when I heard the melodious verses of the Egyptian Quran, I was stunned.

It is not written in any scripture that you should read its mantras or verses or speeches so loudly. It can damage someone’s heart also. If God or Allah is omnipotent and omnipresent, why should he need your loud voices? In this matter, Sant Kabir has strongly condemned Idol worshipers and he didn’t even spare the Muslims for that matter. He says:

Kankar pathar jod ke, Masjid laye banay….

Taa chadh mulla baang de, kya behra hua khudaey..