Public Transport & Restaurants
We board a bus and start talking on the phone, often continuing until we reach our destination. We rarely stop to think if our loud conversation is bothering the person sitting next to us. It’s the same story in restaurants. I feel that a little bit of Civic Sense regarding how much our noise disrupts the peace of a public space would go a long way.
At Home:
We generally call home a “safe space,” but is it a “peaceful space”? Now, I can hear you asking, “Why should it always be silent? Is it a library?” Fair enough. But when one person in the house wants to read, write, or work and expects a bit of quiet, the others could respect that and help create a calm environment. Or, at the very least, they could avoid disrupting the existing silence.
Scholar Anna once said:
“Next to basic amenities, every home must definitely have a reading room (library).”
In today’s world, we might have a room for reading, or we use a spare room for it—but the real question is, is that room peaceful? Either the TV is running all day, or something is playing on a mobile, or someone is constantly talking on the phone.
Imagine two people in a room. One gets a call. If it’s a quick conversation, that’s fine. But if they plan to talk for an hour, it would be better to step outside. Staying right there and talking for an hour without considering the person next to them is quite intrusive. I’m not saying they don’t respect the other person as a human being, but I am saying that respecting them as a human being involves valuing their peace too.
Video Content
Then there’s the habit of watching videos on full volume in public places, including movie theaters—but that’s a huge topic on its own. Let’s save that for a separate post.
Conclusion:
As a society, we have a collective understanding that everyone should be quiet in a library. If we could just extend that same thought to public transport, restaurants, and our homes, and give a little more importance to peace, it would be wonderful…
"Even if you cannot do good,
refrain from doing what is not good;
that is what everyone will cherish;
it is the path that leads to the right way of life."
- Naladiyar 218
Let’s strive to make our surroundings a park of peace! 😁
Thank you.