The mosque committee of Lal Mosque, about which Allahabad University vice-chancellor Sangita Srivastava had written a letter on March 3 to the district magistrate of the area complaining about the azaan (Islamic call to prayer), has decided to reduce the volume by 50% and also change the direction of the speaker away from her house.
In the letter, VC wrote that she is forced to wake up too early every day due to azaan being recited on a loudspeaker and urged DM Bhanu Chandra Goswami to take action.
“This also results in a headache throughout the day, causing losses in working hours,” the letter read. The VC added that no matter how hard she tries, she cannot sleep again after the disturbance. Claiming that she is not against any religion, she suggested that the azaan can be recited even without a loudspeaker.
Srivastava also complained about the announcement of sehri, the morning meal consumed by Muslims in the month of Ramzan. “This practice also creates a disturbance to other people. The constitution of India envisages a secular and peaceful co-existence of all communities, which needs to be practiced in letter and spirit,” the letter further said.
