[sadhuji]

The guiding philosophy of today is to remain healthy. With changing lifestyles and the never ending rat race in which all of us participate, we forget that unless the body is in the best of health, we can never finish on the winning line. We torture the body to its extreme and when a breakdown occurs, we are compelled to seek medical advice. In order to ensure that we do not resort to such last minute exercises, there has evolved innumerable forums – some of these teach yoga, others want you to cultivate the art of a hearty laughter, and then there are those who suggest jogging and early morning walks. There are still others who have installed treadmills in their homes and offices and sweat it out to keep the body fit as a fiddle. And, most importantly of all, there are the dieticians who recommend exactly how much of what you should consume when. The basic intention is to avoid frequent visits to the doctors and keep such visits reserved exclusively for major events.

In this context, the ‘no honking day’ that is being celebrated today (7/4/2008) in Mumbai should be an eye opener. The extent of noise pollution in any city is enough to drive one crazy and, even though there are certain ‘silence zones’ identified around hospitals and schools, the majority of drivers believe that they must announce their presence at every corner. Hence, even when traffic crawls at a snail’s pace, the honking never stops. At times, there are competitors who try to outdo one another in this honking game – the brunt has to be borne by the pedestrians and bystanders.

On the occasion of World Health Day, let us resolve to act in a more responsible manner towards our fellow citizens and respect the need for maintaining silence on the roads. As it is there is pollution of other types in the form of dust, smog and exhaust fumes – let us eliminate these pollutants along with the noise pollution and make life on planet Earth more pleasant for all Earthlings.

 

[priya]

It would be interesting to hear whether Mumbai was noiseless on the 7th - I somehow have my doubts!

[iwanttogoback]

i cannot wait to hear the outcome of this!

i remember lying awake on my fourth floor room trying to ignore the honking and barking at two in the morning. in the end only earplugs and a ceiling fan on fairly fast were able to mask the noise.

[sadhuji]

priya, on Apr 8 2008, 06:25 AM, said:

It would be interesting to hear whether Mumbai was noiseless on the 7th - I somehow have my doubts!

there are no confirmed reports as such but if it is enforced on a weekly basis, it might gradually gain acceptance ...