Yesterday night I thought of watching few highlights of the emphatic Indian victory over Pak, but to my utter dismay all the news channels covered one single story; about V-Day and protests surrounding it. Come February, it has always happened that everybody gears up for some or other reason; the florist to catch a market for red rose, the card maker to foray new varieties of v-day cards, the lovers obviously to find a milestone in their life, politicians to invoke a new controversy, and media houses to breed a new story. It all happens for a single day that’s today February 14th, Valentines day.
Protesters have gone rampage across streets. Mobile marriage vans are on roads to pick budding couples and try instant marriage. Pamphlets putting curbs on young girls freedom for this particular day are being distributed. They say: Valentine day is a foreign concept; a conspiracy promoted by the west to ruin our culture, corrupt our youth. Needless to say, these people are fanatic.
Culture is never a stand-alone entity, its not a contented silent lake, it’s a free flowing river, where rivers of different cultures merge. The question here is if valentine day alone is ruining our culture, then so is every other foreign concept. And to start with first foreign concept is our adaptation of English. Now think of Indian life today without English, I am sure we will find ourselves as aliens to this world. Therefore the right note is to capture the best of the foreign culture, and I am sure, we Indians have done it right, and very carefully.
The so-called watchdogs of our society, should they determine, what we should eat, how we should celebrate? Should they determine, whom should I talk to, and whom should I not? Can they imagine their life today, without a mobile phone, without a printing press where they print their glossy posters and pamphlets. Why they don’t see them as foreign concepts as well? They can’t. Nirad C. Choudhury was right; We Indians are hypocrite enough to understand the realities.
But the problem is not only with them, but with this Gen-Y as well. Today valentine day is all about packed wallets. Parents encourage their children by giving enough pocket money (they feel, they missed the bus, let their children don’t miss it), market adds fuel to it, and media creates the hype. You have got 365 days, and why only today, why such a casual (!) way to celebrate love. Why a rose, at a cost of Rs. 15/- (Rs 5/- on other days), why an expensive gift, why a candle-lit dinner? Why to make a divine concept like love, a diabolical one? Why for the sake of the hype?
Let’s stop talking; about puppy love, and culture ruination. Let thousand cultures merge in our great Indian culture, but let the souls find love, peace, mutual affection.
Just celebrate life. Have fun, watch pogo!!
~Swarup
Valentines Day, 2006
