#VinitasPune: Why Are Pune’s Housing Societies So Intolerant?

Angry senior neighbour
Image used for representation only

 

Living in a housing society represented a community with members who lived in harmony and bonhomie. Unfortunately, today most societies have become an arena for constant bickering and pettiness…

Just last week, a senior citizen called in the cops to her upper-crust housing society and all to complain about a few children who were noisy while playing the game of `Chor Police.

The cops promptly rushed there and issued a note  of warning to the children.

Their stunned parents, protested against this move to the managing committee.Calling in the police for a trivial issue like this, which ideally should have been handled amicably by the society is reason enough to ask the committee’s involvement. However, apparently their protests have fallen on deaf ears.

Playing in the open is not only a basic right of children but should be encouraged even more now. What with the addiction to smartphones and devices that is adversely affecting the physical and emotional health of the young ones.

However, in most of the housing societies, it is invariably a select handful of seniors/middle-aged members who are outraged by this activity.

Surely, noise levels are high when children indulge in playing group games, but is it fair to ban them all the time?

One can understand that during certain slots like 1 pm to 4 pm when people are taking afternoon naps or post 10 pm, these activities could be curtailed, but how can you forbid them altogether?

Didn’t they have a similar childhood? Wasn’t that the healthiest way of growing up? Why clamp the next generation now? Can’t every housing society create friendly rules? Or do you have the right to misuse your power just by the virtue of you being an adult and keep scolding and threatening children?

As it is, open spaces in the public arena have been and continue to be devoured by vested interest, resulting in the thickening of concrete jungles.

Thus, housing societies, being gated communities, are the best options for children to channelise their physical energy.

I must admit, I plead guilty of having yelled at children many years back, when my glass window pane was smashed with a cricket ball. I wish I had shown my disappointment in a more polite way and with an understanding of the larger good of the action.

Now, when the ball keeps falling in my balconies, I welcome the youngsters who comes to collect it, with a smile. They too smile back, pleasantly surprised at my cool reaction.

I know a housing society which deliberately planted trees in the open ground, so as to restrict children from playing freely.

Getting after kids is just one kind of intolerance. There are other kinds too.

A dance teacher in one of the well-known housing societies of Pune, has been teaching children Bharatnatyam, since the last two decades. However, complaints by neighbours against the sound of `ghungroos’ never ceases.

I am horrified that people are protesting against someone who is teaching the nuances of a performing art, which is our proud cultural heritage and only in the normal hours of the evening.

I can’t fathom how, instead of reveling in the sound of `ghungroos’ and tapping of the feet, people actually are disturbed by it and showing disdain and disgust?

Once, a respected vocalist invited us for dinner. He was rendering a beautiful Ghazal at around 8.30 p m. Suddenly, someone from the balcony of the next building rudely shouted, asking him to immediately stop singing.

I was surprised at this protest. I can understand if this was post 10 pm (as per Supreme Court directives).

Obviously, these people seem to tolerate only the high decibel cacophony that emanates from television sets! 

The other day, in another high profile neighbourhood, a lady complained about the noise of the air-conditioner in the next building, which adversely affected her sleep. Then you have weird complaints like a member being disturbed even with the kick of the scooter; of the lower floor resident protesting against the upper floor resident doing exercises (the noise of the feet disturbed him); arguments over where the recycled compost should be kept – each one wanting it somewhere else; heated debates over this and that expenditure for the housing society; rude and uncouth emails to housing society managing committee members to the extent of harassment, over common issues.

And the list goes on…

Invariably, you will find groups and coteries in housing societies, all in verbal or cold wars over each other. It seems as if there is only ill-will pervading the air – not an iota of gratitude, for having been blessed with a good home amidst people.

I wish the atmosphere in housing societies is like the 10 day Ganesh Festival where everyone buries hatred and joins in the evening `Arati’ and celebrations.

Why not extend it to the remaining days of the year and see how our housing society turns into perpetual joyous neighbourhoods? It may seem difficult with the invisible walls we have built around us, but certainly not impossible!

 

You agree, Don’t You?

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#All views expressed in this column are those of the columnist and Pune365 does not necessarily subscribe to them.

Vinita Deshmukh