My Ears have to hear today

 What my ears hear today......

I came to Hubli in 2000.A quaint town,picturesque and simple.Laidback and slow.

The Mumbaikar in me found the place pleasant and unusual both.

The hustle bustle and white noise of Mumbai was not here.

No longer " My Ears" heard the honking and bonking.....the screaming and screeching. 

My Ears woke up to the cuckoo cooing,the birds chirping.

Early morning the Ears heard the ringing of bells in households performing morning prayers and " Kousalya Suprabhatam" by the legendary MS Subbalaxmi in the background.

The traffic on the road was sparse.

But The Ears heard cattle mooing on the roads more than honking of vehicles.

Evenings were pleasant. Children would play freely on the streets without any hassles or scare of traffic.

The Ears heard laughter and shouts by young innocent kids in the nearby garden. 

Nights had the insects buzzing,the crickets chirping,the owls humming.....and soft wind blowing whole night.

The Ears which had got exhausted and numb hearing the whole humdrum of Mumbai.....were very thrilled with Voices and Noises of Nature around.

Years passed.

Hubli city grew.

Population increased.

Business and Modern Technology took over the quaint town....and turned it into a busy Business District of North Karnataka. 

Today,my Ears in the morning are woken up by the Rani Chenamma Train blowing the horn to announce her Arrival at Hubli Station. 

Then simultaneously the Loudspeakers at all religious places wake up people for prayers all over Hubli.....each louder than other.....

The traffic on the streets too starts very early.Incessant mindless honking of 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers even on empty streets is mind boggling. 

The sounds of MS Subbalaxmi is replaced by Remix music and Dolby stereo sounds of Variety of  " Spiritualism " in every household.....

They drown the sounds of Nature completely....

The Ears no longer are able hear chirping of birds around....or the breeze blowing early morning. 

The Ears only hear buzzing of Air Conditioners, Lifts and Hydraulic pump sets in every home and Apartments. 

Children no longer can play on streets as there is overcrowding and heavy traffic everywhere.

Children are cooped up at home in front of screens.

The Ears hear only occasional violent outbursts,Shouting, screaming,thumping by Children when the elders snatch their Screen Time from them.

Roads are dug up,dirty and heavy traffic jams lead to only Incessant loud honking and Loud fights,hurling of abuses and foul language.

Nights no longer are peaceful. 

Ears hear only cacophony of Loud noises coming from various mobiles playing all sort of reels,songs,movies.

Even a morning or evening walk is no longer silent......Mobile phones and people force  the Loud noise into your Ears.

High decibels of Noise is all that our Tympanic Membrane in The Ears has to adopt and adapt right since childhood. 

So much to bear.....in name of Technology and Modernization.....

The Ears have to hear a lot today and pay a heavy price......

- Dr Tripti Milind Galgali. 

Hubli