A few days back, at Pune, I was trying to park my car in a slot that was empty, suddenly a man started yelling at me telling me that he was standing there to ensure that the spot remains vaccant for his boss' car. His behaviour was so crass it left me dumbfounded. I have started wondering, where has all the old world charm gone, when to be courteous was considered an hallmark of good breeding. We have always been taught to never raise our voice. When ever I go to a public place, the loudness, be it of music, or of the non stop chatter of the youngsters simply makes me sick.
Our festivals just cannot be celebrated without a dose of high decibel, ear splitting, music and fireworks. Our leaders, simply cannot make a point, without shouting or throwing histrionic tantrums.
We have to just look at nature, to see how it achieves the most wonderful miracles, with not so much as a whimper. Emily Diciknson, in her poem "Nature, The Gentlest Mother" describes this trait touchingly.
Is all this aggression really good for all of us as a society? Is gentleness no more a virtue? Will the "Sound of Silence" never whisper to us the wisdom of the profound? I can only wonder!
