Garv se bolo, zor se bolo: We are loud!

Being loud is a national trait. As far as cultural evolutionary behaviour goes, being a culture that is both numerically gargantuan and ensures safety and pride in numbers, being heard in a melee is a talent honed and valued by our society. For instance, if there is a fire in a cinema, the loudest voice(s) will save lives over the loudest scenes.

If there is no fire, though, it would be another matter. Being voluble, though, is not to everyone's taste even in our decibels-tolerant culture. But not being silent in libraries - those still existing, anyway - not speaking softly in public spaces or not using vehicular horns sparingly but instead honking like there is no tomorrow, prepare us for situations where one may need to concentrate under raucous conditions.

Perhaps therein lies the key to why so many Indians do so well in quieter countries - their ability to think redoubles in the relative silence.


We should proclaim our loudness loudly. And as our films have shown over decades, why say 'Nahin' once when you can crescendo your way up to a 'Nahin, Nahin, NAHIN!' It is in that spirit that our TV news, advertising, parliament, festivals and, indeed, ordinary life function. Loudness gives that extra value to our penchant for meditation. Which would be ironic weren't it for the fact that irony is not our national trait. AT ALL.