"Manmadha Din," The Indian Version of Valentine's Day

Here is another day of the year where the Hindu Fundamentalists can come out of their hibernation. Its St.Valentine's Day, the Day for celebrating Love and Affection between intimate companions. It is tradionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionary and sending greeting cards. There are various facts and myths about the origin of the Valentine's day, one can find them googling. But, the celebrations had caught the attention of the fundamentalists yelling that it is a festival of the west and is against our culture, Hindu Culture.

There are certain questions that need to be answered first, Is it the idea of a day or the open expression of love and affection thats irking these fundamentalists? Is it the idea of borrowing a foreign culture that they are against? or Is it the insecurity they are feeling to protect their cultures? These are to be answered only by them, for they aren't giving any reasons except saying that its against their cultures, its their thinking that made the difference.

But, they are the citizens of this country with a well laid constitution and its elements. They are entitled Fundamentalists, but why aren't they not obeying the Fundamental Rights? According to the constitution, six fundamental rights were recognised that include right to freedom of expression, cultural rights, and freedom from exploitation, which they are violating. They are to be punished according to the law, but let off due to the sheer pressure and fear of losing faith in the government. So, with the government not coming to rescue us, its time we take it on our shoulders and sort out the matters. One should appreciate the 'Pink Chaddi Campaign' organised by the consortium of pubgoing, loose and forward women to protest against the right wing hindu group, shri ram sena.

First of all imagine what one would think of this situation if you were one of the citizens of a western country? How rude it would be to disobey others culture in such a hostile way? Why India, known for its many renowned virtues of Tolerance, Friendliness, brotherhood, Non-Violence and Truthfulness (by the Gandhian Philosophy) could hate a foreign culture? Why havent they cried foul over India accepting the English language, their calendar and constitution? From the ages, India has been a land of many religions, cultures and traditions If Indians can live happily in brotherhood with others, can celebrate Eid, Christmas, Gurunanak, Bhudda in the same manner as Duesshera, Holi and Diwali etc., why is this Valentine's day, a festival of Love, much like other festivals/celebrations is treated in such a manner? So, the reason they are stating is against the Indian Culture itself, of showing hatred against the alien cultures. So, it might be the insecurity they are feeling to protect their cultures, in this globalised World, in this cosmopolitan culture where new ways are invented to celebrate now and then or may be some of the senior members of the sena group must have faced the brunt of Love in their lifes. The latter one gives the issue a personal tone and leads to Hypocrisy, which has to be of great strength to withstand the hatred of the majority of the nation.

So, let me suggest an idea, a probable solution, one which all can unanimously agree on, the festival of love can be celebrated along with the fundamentalists, as per their reason, of the Culture. Lets change the name to "Manmadha Din," in commemoration of "Manmadha,"the mythological symbol of love and passion. He also lost his life for the sake of love as does St.Valentine is believed to. Manmadha was burned to ashes by lord shiva for disturbing his meditation. He was responsible for the marriage of lord shiva and lordess parvathi, reborn as the daughter of Himalayan King. Lated he was given life by lord shiva himself on the insistence of parvathi and rati (manmadha's lady love).

The Hindu mythology portrays Manmadha as an equipped and accomplised facilitator in the domain of the 'chemistry of love' and a strategist and an executioner waiting in the wings, to get his assignments and acting at the right moments, as the material cause, to serve a higher puppose for the larger good. His armoury is so appropriate: a bow made of sugarcane with string of beetles and flowers as the tips of his arrows that can cause righteous desire and fire for creating the proper vibes for falling in love. his vehicle a parrot. So, in a whole he resembles the western Gods of love and passion, cupid and zeus. Also, the entire episode of manmadha - shiva took place during the 'Maghmasam,' which falls in month of february, one can refer the mythologies for details. Anyway the argument on the date cannot be settled, but can be compromised on the same 14th of february with the fact that the mythology doesnt mention any modern calendar dates.

So, I think this would serve the purpose of "Our Culture," required by the fundamentalists and "Day for expressing our love" as desired by the youngsters. So, give it a shot and feel free to suggest a name...