I was in the 7th standard. I stepped
inside my school premises, located the queue of girls belonging to my section
and hastened towards it, when one of my classmates stretched out her hand to
shake mine and wished me “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Before I could comprehend
what it was, I found the other classmates wishing the same to each other.
In a few hours, I came to know all about Valentine’s
Day though I was not sure whether it was supposed to be celebrated between
lovers or with anyone one may love including one’s parents. My classmates
insisted it was the latter: studying in an all girls’ convent and being
chaperoned by our parents at all other times ensured that we never had any
boyfriends, but we too wanted to partake in this grand phenomena called
Valentine’s Day.
For the next few years on Valentine’s Day, after
returning from school I would unzip my bag, spread out the books and exercise
copies on the central table, switch on the TV and click the remote to select
MTV. Listening to romantic numbers by Boyzone, MLTR, No Mercy, Elton John,
Backstreet Boys, Carpenters, Cardigan, Celine Dion, Shania Twain and many
others, I would try to replicate the Life Science and Physical Science diagrams
in the lab book for my homework, negotiate with numbers to solve Mathematical
problems and wonder whether I would be asked out for a date on Valentine’s Day next
year although that was impossible due to the above mentioned reasons.
In India, there is a lot of controversy surrounding
Valentine’s Day, which I find absolutely unnecessary. To those who criticise it
as an import of the West, I would like to ask whether they have shunned
everything that had originated in the West. Don’t they attire themselves in
Western clothes? Don’t they eat or drink anything that is not native to India? To
those who frown upon it saying love is not just for one day, I would like to
tell that yes, we love our partners everyday but due to the busy schedule, we
might not get time to go out of our way to express it. So it’s nice to have
some occasions when we do something special for the person who is sharing
his/her life with us. So what’s wrong if one celebrates Valentine’s Day just
like one marks other occasions like birthday, marriage anniversary and any
other day of some personal happiness? I agree with those who say that
Valentine’s Day has been introduced and popularized in India for commercial
gains. But is that stopping anyone from taking it to a more meaningful level if
one wants to? As for commerce, what’s wrong if one avails, as per one’s budget,
the delights that shops and restaurants have to be offer? We all survive by
selling something – whether it is knowledge, software or diamonds.
I can understand that this day might be painful for
those who had just suffered a breakup/rejection/betrayal by their partner. I
have been through such low phases too. I think the best way to deal with such a
situation is to stay away from TV, radio and social networking sites and
indulge oneself in an activity that it is devoid of even the slightest whiff of
romance.
Coming back to myself, I will have to remain confined
in my office cubicle for most part of the day. After that, I will definitely rustle
up some delicacies for my husband – that will be special for us as I rarely cook
on other weekdays.
