Wasn't a fan of Vijay's Jananayagan movie BUT that is exactly what is happening to our state and it feels........terrifying to witness it in realtime(NOT a movie discussion post)
If you wish to skip the chronology, scroll down to "GET THIS". Most of this post is a rant. It does not discuss the movie but only mentions a scene with relevant context. I use a lot of em dashes — I hope you can manage. TLDR at the end.
I've(24M) lived in my locality(rural) for 15 years and in my city(tier-2 industrial city) all my life. The churches in the locality I've mentioned have existed for over 50 years. Since the appointment of a new church-incharge, one particular RC church that is closest to my house began blasting extremely loud music(upto 110dB — google it) everyday both in the morning and in the evenings. The incharges were a married couple(used to be Pentecost until very recently) who we used to be close with in the beginning but drifted apart as years progressed. I personally contacted them stating that it can cause health issues for most people including pregnant women and new borns along with other added inconveniences for everybody. They barely acknowledged it. It kept going on EVERY SINGLE DAY! I had to do something about it because it started bothering the kid's study time in the evening and because it's 6 cone speakers placed on top of a 65 foot high tower pointing outwards in all directions. Using them rarely or during festive days were fine but operating them daily was completely not!
I approached the parish priest and then the RC Diocese directly — no solid response. Met the subcollector — sounds decrease for two weeks and then back again. Approaching the SP and Collectorate triggered a more formal investigation, the second party was called and they were asked to provide a written statement stating that they shall keep the sounds in check or would face consequences. That kept them in check for another 2 weeks. More complaints to more authorities — only arrogant responses and temporary relief. In the Tahsildar investigation they outright told to the officer they wont provide anymore statements or co-operate with the investigation. Another meeting with the SP and he directed the police to register a FIR and remove the speakers immediately. As luck would have it, the steel ladder for reaching the second level of the church tower was removed by chance and the police were unable to execute the SP's order.
This started Dec 2025, it's Oct 2026 now and the issue is still not entirely resolved although the sound levels have come down significantly(from almost 110dB to 80dB — which is still loud) The Central Pollution Control Board wrote a letter to the District Collector asking him to take care of the issue. Since after that the sound went under 60db (very bearable).
GET THIS:
The consequent week, the SAME GUY who blasts loud sounds in the Church started blasting extremely loud music in the nearby Hindu Temple! This exact same thing happened on Jan 2025 after I complained to the parish priest of the church — he reduced the sounds greatly in the church and played it in the temple! I rushed to the temple(just like last time so that this doesn't become a religious dispute because of the nature of the locality). He had locked the gates of the temple after turning on the speakers and left the vicinity — maybe because he knew I'd come — just like last time. I called the police and a lot happened that evening. I decided to file a complaint in the police station for obvious reasons — one of it being the discovery that 'the guy' informed the church-goersthat we are complaining and demanding that they STOP their prayers and rituals. The SAME guy talked to temple-goers and told them that we are complaining and demanding they STOP their rituals!
Got a lawyer for the next day. While talking to him about the issue he said, "It wasn't this way back then — or even a few years back. But now, for every single occasion a group is blasting loud speakers. For Temple function, for Church function, for Periyar bday, for Kamaraj bday, for Anna bday, for Muthuramalinga Thevar bday, for Krishna Jeyanthi, for MGR bday, for this and that and that! Kamaraj never emphasised his caste but these folks today use his name to celebrate their caste!".
This is when I realised. I've never had to go through all this when I was young. I was a very proud Hindu but my proudest of moments came when I had the opportunity to confidently announce that my father was appointed directly by the district's Bishop(the same RC Diocese) to build schools and CHURCHES(I was 6 years old during this). I was so proud of the fact that a religious leader — of the highest order — offered work to him despite multiple available options in their own religion and caste(yes, caste— that's how it is here) purely out of consideration of the quality of work. I was proud that (some) people of that time were open and accommodating of other's identities and sentiments without..........feeling insecure of theirs.
Cone speakers and simply put, speakers — were available for decades! It is now that the division and the need to establish one's community based identity is highest and most visible in the past 20 years. This is when the scene from Jananayagan movie struck me, of how the antagonist creates internal conflicts within the state by enabling accessibility of weapons(aka tools to self-impose an individual's identity by force after threatening theirs) to citizens. Increasing prominence of this issue leads me to suspect that there isn't one grand John Himler(villain in the movie) but many smaller, more narrow minded Himlers with no grand goal in mind spread throughout the state, promoting hate and division.
Maybe, films are either reality or yearnings of the writer that they wishes were reality in an over dramatised visual form. 'Over-dramatisation' because people have become desensitised over the years. Perhaps that is why most people consider movies older than 50 years to be slow and slightly unentertaining.
Where will we go from here? It started with one church, now it's another temple, it has become another church and another temple(started playing a mantra every 1 hour after announcing the time). Almost 4 different groups playing regularly in a 500m radius on top of several random occasions(like the ones mentioned above). I'm concerned. I'm....simply scared. To live among such......people...just people. To.....I cannot bring myself to write further.
To be frank, until a few lines ago, I was enjoying the flow of my words despite the distress but you can visibly see the uncertainty now. This is how it has become. I have my grandparents at home who we are taking care of. These broadcasts never stopped even during board examinations! An old-aged lady in the locality confided to me and I remember the very words, "Thambi engaluku vayasaaiduchu. Engalaala ethirthu onnum pana mudiyala. Adhunaala ivan ippadi aaduran!".
Almost 11 months, I'm still......fighting. My bigger concern is, where do we go from here? What happens to tomorrow? Will more of...us, create further drift between ourselves? Is this the beginning of the decline...? Is....Phew...
Edit:
It was a rant, I wasn't trying to make a point but there was a comment asking for it, so I'll add it.
TLDR: Community based divisions seem to have gained prominence recently. It will start affect every part of a citizens life. So either educate your kids to be incorruptibly committed to the truth or you get them TF outta here!
