Valentine Day -

what is important in life?

What is important in today's world? Getting a stuffed glitzy red teddy fuzzy over wrapped in paper streaming with ribbons and chocolates which declare undying love ( at least for the season) or the real love which doesn't need the hype of commercial materialistic declarations.

In today's day and age  woe beside the lover if he does not get his girlfriend the suitable gift declaring love and how much he cherishes her. The economy budgeted deal with the teddy , flowers , and the cheap box of chocolates is what makes waves on the internet , every shop is festooned with red ribbons and teddy bears and also everywhere there are fat cherubic angels which compel the youth to buy so as to measure up in the lover's eyes. If you truly loved your partner would you need to declare your love on one day ? Why have we become mortgaged to anniversaries or the hype involved in public declarations?

What is with the increase in PDA's? Here , I'm not talking about the latest handheld gizmos which are in everyone's hand ... a sanjeevani booti in their lives.

Public Display of Affection is the call of the day. Valentine Day is also not to be confused with the historical V-Day of yesteryears. It is a day where men and women go overboard in public display of affection and try and declare their  commercialized love via cards, chocolates and teddy bears and other cootchie-coo gifts. In fact , the hype is so much , that we have sites which serenade the love via special messages. Their is a crushlist.com also started by what else a smart IITian where one registers their crush and if you happen to find your crush on the specific list , well you hit pay dirt! India is definitely the land of 'jugaaad'. 

This day as according to Dr. Nirmal Dhallu a senior citizen was not present in their days. He says when he left India in the 60's this particular day had no meaning, no mention ever.  Natha Toor, says never had it in my life but he believes and writes in Punjabi," sada diwali saadh di, atha pahar basant'.   Valentine Day is  according to a majority of the people to be a creation of the multinationals who via intelligent subtle marketing bombarded the public into believing that love can only be expressed and be commemorated on a special day . Yes, there is a story but isn't love beyond words , and isn't everyday is a celeberation ? asks Surinder Dulai a business woman .

Dr. Preeti Purewal, a dentist categorically says it's an overrated day. These are sad,desperate attempts by business attract more customers by having the bizarrest items and by screaming love in RED hues. Super bowl finishes and the whole world gets sucked in by the love arrow of the fat miniature cupid . India is the latest victim. We love adopting anything and everything which is the passport to the western world , Harpreet Sandhu , a NRI from Canada , says anything imported to India is more valuable even if it is a word or a fake sentiment.

Valentine Day creates pressure on the youth of today to buy expensive gifts and declare their love , in this day and date where the change of friends is faster than the blink of an eye; the frequency is so high that it just creates a peer pressure. On an average every youngster will spend 1000RS on innocuous gifts . Harsimran Athwal , a dietician highlights an interesting fact, "India and festivities go hand in hand and it is inseparable. For an Indian psyche this is the perfect way to celebrate another day ! and anything which gets it closer to the western world is acceptable. This hangover still persists.

Pavittar Bhinder , a twenty something IT  professional has strong views,' Definitely over-rated, overhyped business of love. He says, what is wrong with the other 364 days  to express or one's feeling for someone-if they are real. However , India is an ideal place for Valentine day ; we have all the ingredients to make it more interesting-suppressed freedom of expression (desire) , social taboos and the indigenous Sena's to oppose it. Everything from a synthetic hero to villains required for a Bollywood movie.

So who is in your hindi pot-boiler? Someone who you change if he /she does not give you the requisite IT gift of the year or the undying janam -janam pyaar of the yesteryears....

Decide and do tell when you all are finished with lala land of love.

Ravneet  Sangha