A Valentine’s Day “fatwa”
Stumbled across this news today: “No love on Valentine’s Day, Sena on a rampage“
“… In Delhi, about a dozen Sena protesters briefly blocked a road early on Wednesday and burnt Valentine’s Day cards and gifts, chanting ‘Down with Valentine’.
In Lucknow, Sena activists sent out a diktat against Valentine’s Day celebration and threatened to beat up couples found celebrating their love.
“Our volunteers will check parks, hotels and restaurants and swoop upon young lovers found walking hand-in-hand,” Vijay Tiwari, a Shiv Sena activist in Lucknow, said. “We are deadly against Valentine’s Day,” Sapan Dutta, a Sena leader, said. “We are for civilized love and affection.”
In Pune, activists of Sena Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, Shiv Sena’s student wing, protested outside prominent colleges. They tore Valentine’s Day cards and shouted slogans. Several Vidyarthi Sena activists were taken into custody and police pickets have been deployed outside the colleges.
In Indore, Sena activists demonstrated and raised slogans against Valentine’s Day celebration near the Gandhi statue.
…
The clarion call to Shiv Sena workers to oppose Valentine’s Day came from none other than the Sena chief himself. Writing on Sena mouth piece Saamna, Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray said the party’s opposition to Valentine’s Day will continue as it has ‘nothing to do with Indian culture’.
Only those who are not patriotic and has a lot of parents’ money to spend will celebrate the day, and ‘Sainiks’ will continue to oppose the foreign culture, he said through the article. “
I would love to rip this argument apart but unfortunately I am constrained by time today…so here are some extempore comments…
This is madness…
While I agree that Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with Bharatiya culture, does that mean that Shiv Sainiks have the authority to go about bashing people who may not agree or (more likely) are just having a nice time?
Vandalising property and threatening innocent, harmless couples is not Bharatiya culture either..
How far are we from a dictatorship? and what happened to the famed Bharatiya and Hindu virtues of tolerance and liberalism?
And in any case, what has all this go to do with being “patriotic”?
Related Posts:
And if you have some more time, let me know your thoughts on how far are we away from this?
P.S. Has anyone heard of Vasant-Utsav? Read this and this (recommended, unfortunately only in Hindi)
i think shiv sena is right! after all love destroys humanity. i heard love dropped the atomic bomb in japan, love shot Gandhi in the chest, and love gave me herpes last year. So, i agree with ss, hail hatred 😀 that is after all what our country is running on right now.
Dear Sir,
It is not that I am against this Valentines Day, but in way I may be shooting my mouth off or even digressing from this matter; but I feel that the Shiv Sena are on the right track of asking the people not to celeberate this Day.
The methodology adopted by them is something abhorring and other suitable means should be employed to wean our youngsters from this pernicious practice.
It is these kinds of indescretions encouraged by the avarious media and marketer’s that our youth are weaned away from the proper direction of our “Bharathiya Culture”. This tends to eat into the true entrails of the “Real Culture” and once again we may need an Independence Struggle.
The point I am trying to make here is that all that we hear of is not true love. Most of it is gleaned from the two bit American and Indian movies. The trash that is piled on day by day, is thought as true life and people end up in misery.
If we nip it in the bud I am sure we can save our youth from the destructive influence from these type of stupid days.
It is only because of these Days that we end up having confused youth who then tend to blame everybody for the mess than themselves, for being in a mess later.
It is these calf loves that lead to the break up of the Family culture of true “Bharat” and we have nuclear families and Old Age homes.
Let us request the Shiv Sena for adopting better and other means socially adaptable for the “SECULAR MEDIA” which will assist those trying to protect the “Bharatiya Culture” not going the “AZTEC OR AMERICAN INDIAN WAY”.
Regards,
vck
It is despicable the way shiv sena show their opposition to valentines day. I don’t celebrate it but it does not mean i will not allow others to. These guys should be arrested and charged for harassing couples and property damage. Bharatiya culture is not about such acts either.
VCK,
I am honoured to have met you online, the custodian of Bharatiya culture and am delighted by your indefatigable hatred of any other custom or thought process. You are truly the symbol of all that is great in our ancient culture, as epitomised by the Vedas.
I am sure that you embody this in your personal life as well, living in a thatched kutir, wearing unstitched, home spun yarn, eating delicious Bharatiya meals cooked over a wood fired chullah, and sending your children to the nearest gurukul.
But, what is this ….. you have been writing into this forum using a PC and the internet, long known to be the devils’ spawn and residence of all that is anti-Bharatiya? Oh, dear!
Shantanu,
I came across an interesting news story in today’s metro edition of HT, titled “A Different Valentine’s Day”
“Students of a Noida Degree College” celebrated V-Day by planting a Kadamba tree symbolizing the love between Radha and Krishna ”
…
..
“Instead of following western culture and wasting money on greeting cards and gifts, which last but for a few days, one should plan trees. Besides being long-lasting memorial, they increase the green cover of the city.”
Of course, there could be a counter point that in this age of speed dating, who cares for any thing long-lasting… 🙂
Bharat- A Land of Excess
1. We enjoy cricket, love cricket. To show love, we can make riots, destroy millions of rupees properties, kill people, burn effigies of who didn’t perform and so, and we can go to any extremes to satisfy our sadistic desires.
2. I say, celebrate “Prem Diwas” everyday, 365 days a years, 30 days a month, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 60 seconds a miniute and fractions of seconds… Who is asking, not to celebrate? But do it the human-way, not like the way Street Dogs does. I have respect for the Dogs, as they are Dogs and not gifted with intelligence like we human-beings.
3. Bharat is the land of Prem, Kamasutra, land of so many Prem affairs stories. But my point is that, don’t be sexually frustated DOGS. To me, those who use the so-called V-day as love day, find a way to express their sexual furstations like the way dogs does. Why not celebrate LOVE everyday, that will make sense. That make your life happier, romantic, full of joy.
4. I was told and later seen, how in Sravan-Bhadra months, dogs become mad. Mad for finding sex-mates (I put sex-mates, as they really don’t celebrate long-term love relationship, but fulfill the desire born out of an instant). Dogs don’t born as pairs like birds, so they go with any dogs the moment they are aroused. To me, those who celebrate V-day are akin to sexually frustated Dogs.
5. Go to west, and see if anybody is running like Dogs on the streets as in Bharat on that so-called Love day. None, runs; those wish to celebrate, celebrate it in their own way- gfting flowers, gifts, going to a resturant in the evening etc. They don’t disturb others peace on their way of celebrations.
6. Last point: If we ask, who are the authority to prevent V-day celebrations? Then we must also ask, who are the authority to disturb our peace, social peace? Do we want our sisters/brothers marry one day and file divorce applications the next day? Do we want our soceity go to DOGS?
7. Who cares, if there are on an average 200 divorce applications in Pune City alone every months by the educated youths of today? Who cares, if the whole nation engulfed with western-style marry and divorce syndrome, and then spent night in the night-clubs, pubs, bars, discos, and so on? A responsible nation and society cares, else society will Dog way.
8. We are slowly experiencing GUN culture in schools. Wait a bit, the blind following of bad things from the west (there are good things in the west too, we rarely adopt them) will explode the society (urban society esp).
Bharat
====
This is NOT FUNNY:
Pramod Mutalik’s/Raj & Bal Thackeray’s/etc Alter Ego!
Valentine’s Day Massacre
London, Feb. 3 (ANI): As millions of Brits plan to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day this Saturday, the controversial Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary has warned Brit lovers that if they celebrate Valentine’s Day they will rot in hell.
The hate preacher slamed the practice of exchanging cards, sending roses or enjoying romantic candlelit dinners, claiming Britain’s favourite tradition as “a futile and evil festival”, used to justify sinful actions such as free-mixing, promiscuity, vain sexual talk and even fornication, The Daily Star reported.
The London-born lawyer, who in his youth was a cider-drinking ladies’ man, posted the 800-word rant on his anti-West website, ‘The Islamist’.
The article is headlined, “Valentine’s Day Of Fornication” and shows bloody pictures of hearts, while the cover of the magazine shows pictures of Palestinian children killed during last month’s attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The former leader of banned hate group al-Muhajiroun even calls it “Pagan festival” and says it “diverts” people away from “the submission and worship of Allah”.
“Many view this day as harmless fun, an opportunity to show love and affections towards spouses and partners by exchanging cards, giving flowers and having candle lit dinners etc, not realising that its origin and current day practices conflict with the teachings of Islam,” Choudary wrote.
“The recognition of Valentine’s Day opens the door to the Devil to manipulate their behaviour, encouraging them to abandon their Islamic identity and to entertain desires of lust, to engage in pre-marital relations and in other evil practices,” he adds, “People should not succumb. Instead we should endeavour to attain the best form of love, which is exclusive love for Allah.”
The rant is only the latest in a string of bizarre attacks by the extremist.
In December, he told Muslims enjoying Christmas was “the pathway to hellfire and purchasing trees and having Christmas turkey meals are completely prohibited by Allah.” (ANI)
Hell so its not a problem with the “Bharatiya Culture” Alone. 🙂 . Hmm.
I guess we need a Manual detailing what is right and whats not accordign to our culture. I dont think we will have any dreath of authors for it. Atleast it would be easier for the layman to read it before they do anything instead of remembering a lot of things.
Everyone love their partner 365 days, they just have problem with this one day! It is Funny!
Is there any fatwa on 364 days for showing love, giving cards and gifts? Heaven no! Choose another day and show your love by giving whatever you want. What can they do? You got 364 days for celebrating valentine day! Teach them a lesson by declaring a fatwa on them.
I think its parents and parenting problem for other serious issues such as pre-marital and other stuff. They must learn to keep western outlooks through Indian heart and mind. “Jaisee Karnee Vaisee Hi Bharani” Let them realize on their own what is right and wrong! Its nobody’s business to dictate the youth.
I found this from one hinutva site. I am not against V. Day but to go through some points they have raised against V. day for other readers too.
What is the harm in celebrating ‘Valentine day’ ?
There is no scientific or any cultural basis to this day.
As the so called priest Valentine himself was involved in the anti-national acts during his time, then how one can get any benefit by celebrating the day in his name?
On this day young girls and boys come together at pubs, sea shores, hotels, colleges etc and indulge in indecent acts. A common person finds it difficult to even go around such places at this time. Some organisations even organize such programs where the young boys and girls can stay together.
The young students of schools and colleges are falling prey to such culture and express their love to each other by way of exchanging greeting cards. But actually speaking it is not love but only an attraction to the opposite sex at a tender and immature age.
There are several examples of such mentally ill patients available with Psychiatrists who have stuck to their mental illness by ‘proposing’ on ‘Valentine Day’.
It has long lasting bad effect on any youth’s career and also on the society.
The seeds are planted on this day to grow up and cause the destabilization of society through fall in morality.
We can know about direct attacks from outside enemy but cultural invasion is very difficult to detect and even some times difficult to defend ourselves from its evil results.
Cultural derailment always takes the society towards destruction which is being experienced in our Bharat (India) today.
Many western countries do not celebrate this day. ‘Calendar of Roman Catholic Saints’ was prepared in 1969. ‘Valentine’s Day’ was omitted from the general Roman calendar. If this is so then why should we value this day in our Hindustan?
The western custom put the parents in ‘old age home’ and then celebrate showy ‘Mother’s Day’ and ‘Father’s Day’ for one day! Same is the case of ‘Valentine day’. Is the real love showy and limited to just one day? In Indian culture we have numbers of festivals to express love towards each other and also it is part of our lifestyle.
It is time to change the days that defy our ethos !
Since Hinduism is ancient and eternal, it relates everything to various forms of God. Following examples will bring home the Greatness of Hinduism. They will also throw light on how the Bharatiyas are still under the psychological bondage of the British.
Example 1: The frequencies of Prajapati come to the Earth in larger measures on the day of Gudipadva. However instead of celebrating that day as the ‘New Year’ day, the Government celebrates 1st January as the New Year’s day, which is not based on any Principle.
Example 2: Instead of calculating time based on the Bhartiya Culture (‘Shalivahan Shaka’) the Government uses the Christian Era (A.D), which has no relevance to any particular time or zone.
Example 3: The Guru Principle decends on Earth in large measures on the day of Gurupournima. In all fairness that day should be celebrated as ‘Teachers Day’. However it is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Ex-President Dr.Radhakrishnan.
In the Ishwariya Rajya (Divine Kingdom) we are going to change all such things which are not related to Hindu Religion and Culture in anyway.
Forward this message to your near and dear ones for awareness……….
from another site.
http://greathindu.com/2009/02/send-aids-vaccine-to-loose-and-forward-women-they-deserve-it/#comments
Truth Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
If they really sent their under garments, then we can be assured these are not decent girls/womens. They spoiled themselves, and now they trying to spoil others.
This reminds me a story of Leo Tolstoy, which I studied under the tiltle “The Imp and the Peasant.â€
The story tells, how an Imp or Ghost, managed to spoil life of a good farmer. The farmer had a happy family – wife, children and a happy life. But the Imp could not tolerate that, as that is the nature of Ghosts or ghosts of our society like these spolied girls.
So, when the farmer goes in the field to cultivate his field, the Ghost goes to him as a famer and made friendship with him and offered vodka. Before, that famer never consume vodka and had no bad habits. Now, the famer fell into traps of Vodka and just a matter of days spoiled the family.
Now, the farmer don’t go cultivate and always quarrel with wife and childrens. And the Ghost sitting on the tree nearby can’t stop his lough and happiness. I managed to make him another Ghost, so he is so happy. That is ghosts’ biggest achivement. So our these two-legged Ghosts under mask of liberated girls/women, trying to spoil other girls/womens life, family and their future.
Wake up Bharatiya society. Note, its easier to fell into bad traps than cultivating good character and shape decent life. Don’t fall into traps of these Ghosts.
Some one from UK wrote in response to Sushma Swaraj: My daughter too goes to pub, but has juice: Sushma
——
What Suehma Swaraj did not say is that the pub in Uk is different from of India.
Pub in the UK is a disciplined area where there is no dancining and frolicking as seen on Indian Television.
Such Places are as shown on Indian TV is known Lincensed ClubS where only members and their Guests can attend behind locked doors.
It is Not open to the Public as such. Further more if untoward behaviour is recognised it is incombent on the the Club Management to remove such ingredients from the premises and call the Police. The Authority and the Police has the Powers to Close such place/ premises pendining investigation. with the possibility to loosing your Lincense
This disciplined situation does not seem to be in operation in India. The behaviour and conduct of the youths and others as I Have seen on Indian TV is horendous and does not reflect discipline, enjoyment, traditional values and self respect, integrity and dignity in culture. Despite what one may say about Western Liberal attitude and culture I can truely say that youths and every one that goesw to Pub & Clubs has some self respect and dignity in their conduct and behaviour at least for me as an India Living here In Uk for over 45 years I must most respectfully say that what I see and know what is happening in India has gone beyound freedom and liberallism. This is what is not understood in India and mostly a person like Sushma Swaraj.
In every society there are norms & protocol of behaviour. If you breach the society norms and behavioural conduct and moral codes then you are subject to an inquisition. This is what is not understood in India and mostly a person like Sushma Swaraj.
May I comment that no one has raised the question of why the youths and people of India are behaving like this. From my perspective Moral Codes & Conduct Vs Liberalism in an Indian contextis never asked? Why Not?
Indian Films, TV Dramas, News and Current Affairs Broadcast to the West is lamentable it falls drastically short of presenting what is really true Indian Traditional India Values, Custom, & Integrity.
In desperately need a better press, TV, & Films complaints commission as is present in the UK with powers of redress and hefty compensation. Plus a Press, TV and Television Watchdog body
Hope this is of some significance to the DEBATE. Valentine is a Farce as my Wife and Daughter and Daughter in Law is my valentine every day of my life.
XYZ (UK)
———
My daughter too goes to pub, but has juice: Sushma
Mumbai, Feb 14: Strongly condemning the recent assault on women in a Mangalore pub, BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj has hit out at the Sri Ram Sena, saying she is completely against such acts as her own daughter, who lives in London, goes to the pub.
Speaking to Zee Newsʼ Swati Chaturvedi on Kahiye Janab, the bold face of BJP Sushma said, “I strongly condemn such attacks. Such moral policing is completely uncalled for. I think we should give our children good teachings rather than imposing such rules on them. My own daughter goes to the pub but she only drinks orange juice though her friends have wine.”
Swaraj added that one should have faith in the younger generation in addition to the inculcation of proper morals. In this way, there will be no need of moral policing in society, she stated.
The comments come in the wake of the event that shook the nation wherein members of Shri Ram Sena stormed a Mangalore pub and roughed up women present inside in the name of cleansing society.
@ Sanjay, Indian, borneveryday and Bharat: Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments.
More on this later.
V.C. Krishnan,
Even agreeing that V-day is not part of Indian culture and is foisted on, why is it OK for Shiv Sena and others to indulge in physical violence and intimidation?
Are they really so lacking in imagination that they cannot find inspiration from our culture and come up with ideas and events that celebrate love? Do they organize and promote a daandiya raas (or similar events) where youth can interact with each other?
Criticism and violence is useless and counter-productive, they need to provide positive options and activities that people can choose from, instead of celebrating V-day. “Don’t celebrate V-day” is not enough – what’s needed is “There are these other activities to choose from, instead of celebrating V-Day.” Providing alternatives to V-Day will be a positive step.
Additionally, if the focus is on education and making people aware of the reasons why V-day is not good, and what are the negative effects of its celebration, that may be more fruitful. Let people decide if their ideas have merit or not.
What do you think?
Dear Kaffir,
Please read my mail carefully; I have fully endorsed your view as regards the violence unleashed by the Shiv Sena. I am in full agreement with you.
To take up a point of discussion let me add that positive actions and activities had been a part of the Bharatiya Culture.
Bhajans, Satsangs, Discussions drama and repetoire, poem reading etc. There used to be time when children used to play gilli danda, fly kites, marbles, tops and miscellaneous other games.
Adolocents were encouraged to participate in training in their local martial arts. They were taught their slokas, Upanishads, Vedas in the evenings and everything else.
Girls were encouraged to participate in all these activities. “This statement is for the FULLY GROWN CHRISTIAN EDUCATED INDIVIDUALS”.
The whole family was there to participate in all these activities. BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
today these activities are dumb according to others. It is dumb enpough to be thought as GURUKULS and Choola activities.
Today you are discouraged family activities as it is “Demeaning”. As it means being in a type of “GURUKUL”. One is expected to be away from the family so as to be “ACCEPTED”. Understand!!
If you want to be “IN” what you and I consider “Other Activities” should be “Out”.
I am in full agreement with you that we should train our youth in other activities.
Then we alsao have the problems as being criticised as Brown half Pant wallahs! As “Fundementalists! As being Talibanish! As being in the world of sticks and stones!! and away from “Computers and the likes” as if we are in the stone age.
I am fully in agreement with you to encourage our youth in multifarious activities without losing touch with “Computers”!!
Regards,
vck
Very well said Kaffir and V.C.K. I agree with both of you.
Butttt.I am seeing India a dumping ground for western activities.
There is a ray of hope. Few days back I came across one group whose members are neither hindus nor attached to any hindu organisation spreading the words of satsang, bhajans, discussion about Yoga and meditation.
I was astonished to hear them through their flyers about satsang and bhajans and its soothing effect to mind and body. Not that they are ready to go to any house who wants satsang or bhajan in their homes.
What we are abandoning, world have started accepting! Just wait and watch!
Whenever I read the above or similar comments, I turn wryly to the following:
“Did he corrupt the young? In a sexual sense, no. Alcibiades, the best-looking young man in Athens, famously attempted to seduce Socrates sexually, and failed. But in a different sense, maybe the answer could be yes. What Socrates did was to teach the young to ask questions, which their elders found difficult or impossible to answer. If you were one of those elders, you might well have thought that he was making young people into worse people than they would otherwise have been. In that sense, from the point of view of their elders, maybe he did corrupt the young. It’s a common enough argument, now as then: ‘when I was young we respected our elders; these days there’s no respect any more; someone must be to blame.’”
– Plato, The trial and the death of Socrates, 360 BC
And, also this:
“The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is oolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress.”
– Quote attributed to Socrates, in The Republic by Plato, written in 360 BC!!!
The more things change, the more …..
I came across this quote some days back. “We say today’s youth are useless. Are they? No, parents and parenting was useless!
My thoughts: One who keeps guts to blame parents for his/her failure is the enlightened youth. Atleast that youth realised the importance of parenting. Children and youth are full of energy, utilise their positive energy, if not they are about to meet many accidents in their life.
Jai Hind!
Only those who are not patriotic and has a lot of parents’ money to spend will celebrate the dayRe:
Only those who are absolute freaks and have a lot of free time to spend on foolish gimmicks will vandalize the celebrations
V-day is a marketing opportunity…nothing more. If Hinduism was ‘cool’ and ‘hip’, MNCs would have created such an excuse in the name of ‘Yuvotsav’ or ‘Kamdevotsav’ or whatever.
Among youth there are intelligent and level headed people. There are also fools who spend their money in such a gimmick. So those who are spending money on this, they deserve to loose that money. How would you stop morons from identifying themselves as morons? Why would you want to do that? There are other things that require higher priorities.
Please move on. We are not Deobandis, neither that should be our model.
Shantanu,
After I came across the second last hyperlink in your post regarding Vasant-Utsav I got inspired and referenced it in a short story I wrote. Its called “Alleged Lovers” and can be read on http://alwaysinfinite.wordpress.com/
Thanks for all your posts 🙂
Kshitij