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It's that day again tomorrow. MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER checks out which talks louder in today's world: money or lovelorn hearts
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VALENTINE'S DAY A day dedicated to love cannot be such a bad thing in a world seemingly dedicated to hatred and violence PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK
When The Beatles sang "Money Can't Buy Me Love", they had no clue about Hallmark moments that would set the template and price for emotions. The origins of Valentine's Day are lost in the mists of time. The Catholic Church recognises three saints named Valentine who were martyred, including one who defied the Roman (these Romans are crazy) Emperor Claudius II's decree that young men should not marry and performed marriages in secret. One could also look at Valentine's as the church's way of Christianising pagan festivals — February was celebrated as the month of fecundity and fertility. By the Middle Ages February 14, the day of the martyrdom of St. Valentine, was super popular among lovers with customs like wearing your lover's name on your sleeve (the phrase wear your heart on your sleeve has its origins here) and gifting wooden spoons (the favoured motifs were hearts, keys and keyholes).
That first card
But such pastoral purity changed when Esther Howland sent the first Valentine card in modern times. And an entire industry was born. Cards, furry toys, cute trinkets, expensive jewellery, hotels, books, movies... Today, Valentine's is great for commerce. And, considering quite a few of them do it, it's an agreeable day to pop the question. Like, "What! That much?!" Or, "Can I take you out?"
"People make money all the time, so what is wrong with making some on Valentine's Day?" asks Soundarya, a second year law student. "It is an individual thing. Some people may be too shy to the pop the question. They can use Valentine's Day as an excuse and do it then."
"Why not is what I say," says Varun also studying law. "There is no harm in it. And so what if it is commercial? Deepavali is also commercialised; ditto for birthdays. This is just another day."
Aditya feels Valentine's Day is a good idea as it is "a special day for lovers". Vinu Prasanna, working in a BPO categorically states he does not "believe in it. It is not part of our culture and I don't see the sense in wasting time giving roses or cards to someone on one day when you just might decide you hate the person the next!" ABVP, which is planning to force couples found dating in Bihar and Jharkand on Valentine's to marry would be suitably pleased with that one.
"That is plain stupid," says Varun. "When the country is progressing, it is terrible that thought processes seem to be regressing."
Sona, a consultant at a multinational bank, agrees that Valentines is "a western concept. But look around; the whole world is a village. Even 10 years ago, when I was in college, Valentine's was not such a big thing. Now borders are shrinking and Bangalore itself has become so westernised, so young people do feel at home with these kinds of celebrations. Like you would have Thanksgiving celebrations or Halloween celebrations, youngsters and collegians have the enthu to celebrate these days."
Jaidevan, working in a BPO, feels the good thing about Valentine's Day is "the whole world can celebrate it. It is not like a national festival, which is culture or region-specific. And a day dedicated to love cannot be such a bad thing in a world seemingly dedicated to hatred and violence."
Even as we worship the neon gods, most of us would like to believe in love. "I believe in love but more as companionship with liberal dashes of honesty and loyalty," says Sona and Aditya who believes "love is the most natural emotion" would like to go out with friends on Valentine's.
In our frantic, frenetic lives, it is good to have a day when we can take a deep breath and follow our hearts. It just might turn out to be a paean to unsuccess but at least you have given it a shot and let not a card company or a pricey Mississippi mud pie set the cues on how to feel.
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