Sounds of silence

A discord has broken out once again between the Muslim fraternity in Panaji and the Corporation of City of Panaji, the second in recent times. This time around the CCP commissioner Ajit Roy has issued a public notice that no prayers are to be held at the Muslim burial ground by using loudspeakers or public address systems. The commissioner pointed out that it has been brought to his notice that high decibel sound is being used at the kabrastan at St Inez and prayers are being said through loudspeakers and public address system. He has asked the community to avoid disturbing public peace and tranquillity in the surrounding area while ensuring that no prayers are said through the speaker systems.
This is the second time in a couple of months that the CCP has been on a warpath with the Muslim fraternity in Panaji. In September this year, the CCP, citing lack of burial space, wrote to the Trust that bodies of deceased Muslims from outside its jurisdiction will not be permitted for burial at St Inez kabrastan.
The prayers, which the commissioner is referring to, is the Azaan which normally lasts for around two minutes each and which is being held in the adjacent mosque. In Islamic tradition, Muslims are called to the five scheduled daily prayers by a formal announcement, called the Azaan. In modern times, the voice is usually amplified by a loudspeaker or a tape recording of the Azaan is played.
It is but obvious that the Commissioner has not visited the site, since Azaan is being held at the adjacent mosque and not at the burial ground as stated. The issue should have been discussed with the CCP mayor and members before serving a public notice. The mayor is clearly on record that he was not taken into confidence before issuing the notice.
A rather sensible way would have been to first put on notice the Jamat UL Muslamin Gansia Sunni Trust which is managing the burial ground, before adopting a confrontational approach with a direct public notice. Public sentiment cannot be ignored, but religious sentiment also needs to be taken into account, especially when there is a tradition involved. Azaan has been played out at the mosque since the past 20 years, so the obvious question would be why such a notice now.
Secondly, the CCP commissioner is not empowered to handle cases of sound pollution where the collector and village committees under the chairmanship of deputy collector at all taluka levels are the enforcing authorities.
While the motive of issuing public notice remains hazy, there appears to be a covert political tune playing in the background where Muslims stand divided between former Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienker and Taleigao strongman Babush Monserrate. Communal harmony should not be sacrificed at the altar of politics.