Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On Valentine's Day

In a country like India that has a rich cultural tradition, Valentine's Day has no place. The business community is skillfully exploiting the occasion to promote sales. Such aping of the West is not healthy. The day is not just about cards and gifts but marks a serious erosion of our culture and values.

J. Eden Alexander,
Thanjavur, T.N.

Valentine's Day may not be a traditional Indian event but if someone wants to celebrate it, why object? Moral policing by the likes of the Shiv Sena is deplorable. By destroying cards and ransacking shops, they have sent a message of intolerance. Apart from ruining the shopkeepers' business and taking away the joy of some youngsters, what do they gain by such acts? We are a democracy, and every citizen has the right to enjoy an occasion as he or she pleases.

Satbir Singh Bedi,
New Delhi

The instances of violence are a matter of serious concern. They have, like Valentine's Day, become an annual affair. Organisations indulging in such mindless violence argue that the concept harms the country. But surely there are more harmful issues plaguing the country? Even if they want to protest the westernisation of Indian culture, they can do it peacefully. Why force shops to shut down and impose their views on others?

Sujit Kumar Mohanty,
Cuttack, Orissa

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