By Kanika Katyal and Amit Kumar:
It seems that it is not just Cupid, but also Hymen (the god of marriage), that is coming to town this Valentine’s Day, to bless couples with holy matrimony.
The Hindu Mahasabha, with all its saffron paraphernalia, had issued an official statement which decreed that couples displaying their affection in public would be married off. “We are not against love as we are the country which has spread love all over the world. But we are against the western influence on our society. It is the exhibition of love that we dislike,” said Chandra Prakash Kaushik, President of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.
“What difference remains between animals and humans if we start doing it in public?, somebody has to keep up the morality quotient. Humari jama-punji sirf yehi to hai”, he told us in an interview at the party’s Delhi office. “Azaadi ka matlab ye to nahin hai ki, sare aam suhaag raat sadkon pe manane lagein”, he further argued when asked if he didn’t see their initiative as a violation of privacy and individual agency.
To carry out their plan successfully, they have chalked out a nationwide strategy, under which their teams consisting of boys and girls carrying white roses would visit malls, parks, historical monuments and other places frequented by young couples on Valentine’s Day in major towns and cities in the country, to deter the youth from what they believe to be “the advertisement of love”.
We decided to cut through the media clutter and let you hear directly from the horse’s mouth, about the party’s plan of action on Valentine’s Day. We recommend you watch till the very end, where the party president enlightens you on how homosexuality is a disease just like Cancer and AIDS!
Featured image and video shot by Amit Kumar.
Also Read:
Marry Your Sweetheart This V-Day – ‘Shuddh Desi Romance’, Brought To You By Hindu Mahasabha!
Move Over Tinder, Hindu Mahasabha Presents ‘Jai Hinder’ – A ‘Sanskaari’ App For ‘Hindu Rashtra’
Krishna Vijaywargiy
It does not take age, religion or a saffron color to realize that the values of Sanatan Dharma are being ruthlessly modified by self proclaimed religious leaders, if thats even a position to be taken in a society. The most basic concept of Sanatan Dharma, atleast in the ancient era, was to accept and respect all religions, which were then addressed as a-way-of-life. I do spend most of my spare time reading about the history of Sanatan Dharma and it doesnt takes a lor of reading to realize that these people, most of whom are failed political leaders, who preach their personal interpretation of Sanatan Dharma as an opinion of the whole Hindu Community need to be stopped. On behalf of our community, I apologize to all the people who have been wronged by the actions of these people and assure you that their views are not the views of the Sanatan Dharma family. I’m sure where ever their GOD is, he is definitely hoping that people would stop interpreting his books so inaccurately. Please let this be a reminder people, that Gods and religious rules of any society are manufactured by the society that prevailed a few centuries before it. Hopefully, this message would be read by some of our so-called religious leaders and motivate them to concentrate more on improving self than spoiling the name of Sanatan Dharma.
John Mendonca
Thank you for your view which is mature and balanced. These proponents of Hindutva are doing a great disservice to Sanatan Dharma. We need to read swami Vivekananda, Dr.Radhakrishna and the likes to understand better. You are right. These people are failed political leaders.
Manasa Jangala
If love cannot be displayed, then love for God cannot be displayed, love for parents, friends, nothing should be displayed. Aren’t parent’s day, friendship day, mother’s day, father’s day been introduced by the western countries.
I never understand how love before marriage is called attraction and love after marriage is love! How can a social gathering change your feelings? It doesn’t matter if you’re married or not, true love remains true love.
anku
Articles such as these are eye-openers for us. It need not be Hindu Propoganda or a Muslim Fatwa or Christian Gatherings all are the same. It teaches us what we have to ignore in life. Dignified and intellectual people will not come out with such crazy half-baked messages.
Why do we let ourselves get puffed up by such messages I do not understand. We also become so apologetic that it is a Christian or a Hindu or a Muslim with such messages. Do not divide yourselves into such small compartments it will be of no use. If the same person was of another religion he would have given a contradictory message in that sphere. It is your mental make-up that counts.
But there is surely something which we cannot deny. We always ape the west and somehow feel guilty for what is ours (this is because very conveniently for a long time vested interests have seen to it that on the basis of religion we stay divided – divide and rule policy – really sad). This has automatically gives the west a step over us.
A Valentine Day or New Year is no harm. I have seen people hug and wish each other on New Year’s Day, irrespective of religion, caste, creed etc. For that one moment there is such a happiness on one’s face which is a pleasure to watch. Maybe we can also show such happiness (beyond religion, caste, creed) when our festivals also are celebrated.
Ducard
If women want equality, men should not be expected, asked, forced, or emotionally blackmailed to buy cards, flowers, gifts, rings, jewellery, chocolates, teddy bears, dinner etc. Feminists will only throw equality tantrums when it works in their favour.
anku
Hi to a great extent ur right. But there is a certain foreplay and pleasure derived by both sides when gifts are given, as long it is not forced from the partner or decided only from the value point.
Please understand a woman is made up in a certain way, a bit different from the male. And she generally expects show of affection in these small ways. But as mentioned above she should also learn to appreciate any token of love shown, When that is overcome everything works out fine.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Do buy a small lovely gift for your mom or sister, dad or brother. This is what Valentine’s Day is all about. Show of affection
Ducard
“Please understand a woman is made up in a certain way, a bit different from the male.”
You need to tell that to feminists. And women are not just a bit different, women are a hell of a lot different.
“Happy Valentine’s Day. Do buy a small lovely gift for your mom or sister, dad or brother.”
I am neither a puppet nor a slave of the West. I have 365 days a year to buy gifts for my loved ones.
Random_Guy
Ducard: “…….I am neither a puppet nor a slave of the West. I have 365 days a year to buy gifts for my loved ones.” : Really, why do you cerebrate Rakhi only once a year? Don’t you love your sister on the other days?
Ducard
Do westerners celebrate Rakhi? Is it celebrated all over the world? I’ll start celebrating Valentine Day when western countries start celebrating Rakhi.
Fem
So you are saying that you would celebrate only those occasions which are not celebrated in western world? What is this desire to be unique? Rebel without a cause?
Go ahead! Do not celebrate V day. No one is asking you to. Least of all the Western world.
Ducard
My point is the slave mentality. When westerners do not celebrate our festivals, why should we celebrate theirs?
Fem
Its not a question of ‘should’. Its just the fact that people celebrate it because they want to celebrate it, because it makes them happy. Simple! Did you ever see anyone celebrating Lent out of their own accord?
So its not a slave mentality really. Its just adopting what makes one feel happy.
Btw, I have seen westerners celebrating Holi with Indians in many places. Just because this is such a fun festival. So its not about a ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘would’. Its just about the basic freedom of letting people do what they want to do.
priyal
This man just now shunned the the purest from of love present in our indian context. Krishna and Radha were not married,was it lust or just a fatal bodily attraction.
Also, how can anyone just talk about forcing some individuals into marriage with so innocent expressions on his face.
And sir, neither Homosexuality nor expressing love is a disease.
btw happy Valentine’s Day :*
Jigsaw
Kanika and Amit, clearly knowing that Western powers have invaded us, divided and ruled, looted our wealth, killed our young ones, raped our women, you still follow their customs like deranged zombies, thus staining your soul.
Are you going to be bounded in mental chains of slavery 68 years onward, or behave like Indians who truly gained independence.
The choice is yours.
Krishna Vijaywargiy
Dear Jigsaw,
Invasion, division, crimes blah blah blah have statistically been done by every society on others. A soulful person needs to understand that you cannot heal your wounds by wounding others. Lets concentrate on trying to change ourselves instead of pointing fingers.
And the values of Sanatan Dharma followed in India does not need protectors. We have marked our presence with a bang in every generation. So please stop being so scared from the westernization. Our values are not so mediocre that a little amalgamation from any culture would take away its charm. Please respect everyone around you and please dont call anyone slaves. We, despite our differences in region, religion, sexual orientation, etc., were all created by the same god. Lets stop proclaiming ourselves the protector of that god. Let people do whatever they want to. If those actions wrong someone physically, its the fault of the criminal. If their actions wrong someone mentally or emotionally, its the fault of the victim.
Spread love… not thoughts… everyone has been blessed with a mind.. (or almost).. and I respect you for a person that you are, despite the negativity in your thoughts…
TheSeeker
In that case, Jigsaw, you should stick to watching Bollywood movies, which you clearly haven’t. I’m not a supporter of V Day myself, but your logic is the kind of logic that could to lead to WW3. Kindly enlighten on how Indians should behave, Your Highness? Because it seems like according to you an independent Indian is one who has no freedom of thought and opinion.
Jigsaw
Seeker, you do not seek originality but assumptions based on societal norms. It is not befitting to be a blind follower, but a master of true justice.
Will you now accept that Valentine’s Day is a bondage or still live in a delusional world of freedom of thought and opinion, when it has clearly been forced on you.
Make a choice.
TheSeeker
I do believe that Valentine’s Day is a bondage for men. Read my comment again. You know another thing that’s a bondage for both genders? Marriage, a societal norm. I believe you are not against THIS bondage, right?
Maybe you should let logic decide whether something is oppressive or not instead of classifying Western culture as a whole as oppressive and Indian as liberating. And as for me, I am sure I am not a blind follower.
Ducard
It isn’t about a culture being oppressive or liberating. When they don’t copy our culture, why do we copy theirs?
P.S. Marriage is only a bondage for men.
TheSeeker
If by culture you mean western clothes, food, media and language then I agree that this kind of westernisation is bad because it undermines indian culture (if it does). I am sure we are all guilty of westernising this way, but could we help it? Our society is permeable to western influence thanks to us being ruled by foreign power for 200 years. No point of arguing as what is done is done.
But there are are certain aspects of western culture that are worth adopting such as Western style of thinking, that is, rational and scientific thinking and other things. There are also things that need to be removed from indian society such as caste system, patriarchy and superstitous beliefs and customs. To aim for a healthier society it is necessary to learn from others and change, not spread hate and point fingers.
“Marriage is only a bondage for men”
Since that is not the point of the argument, I’ll let this pass. But youre still for marriage? Lol
Ducard
Westernized thinking is due to globalization, not British rule, and yes it can be helped. Western society is hedonistic and materialistic, Godlessness prevails, destruction and devastation, alcohol and fornication, pregnancies and abortions, STIs and AIDS – all blessings of western culture. Marriages are a joke. Divorce is at an all all time high, so are single parent families. There is no family structure, everyone is equal, including parents and children, and husband and wife.
What has westernized thinking given them which makes you so eager to adopt it?
TheSeeker
Well it was the British who gave us the English language, abolished our sexist laws and modernization was also done by them. They did play an important role in our westernisation.
Every culture has its pros and cons. We should take the best of each and make it our own. Indian society follows the herd mentality, that is, collectivism. And then there is the feudal mentality that puts elders over young, teachers and parents over children. Our education system is discriminative (partiality over certain subjects). We like to pretend that we are all celibate and sexuality doesn’t exist. And then there is the patriarchal society and our great caste system. We are more faithful to god than we are to the people around us.
Yes, we sure need to learn from others. Why are you so against that? Keep in mind that atleast our society is dynamic and has a lot of scope for change, unlike western culture. This makes us highly effective.
“What has westernized thinking given them which makes you so eager to adopt it?”
Logical thinking. Questioning your own self. Making assumptions and decisions based on reasoning and analysis. Individualism. Equality, I dare say. There are many. As I said, every culture has its good and bad.
John Mendonca
Rapes on our women are continuing everyday. Just open the newspapers. Dalits are raped, murdered and humiliated. Is this being done by westerners? In which world are you living?
Ducard
“But youre still for marriage?”
Marriage in India is the legal and financial exploitation of men.
DOWRY
22,000 Dead Men vs 6,800 Dead Women BUT Dowry is a woman’s issue – LOL!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Harassed-over-dowry-men-demand-fair-play/articleshow/5241108.cms
narayan gangurdey
These people making us nonsense and the
y are use theire power to common people. When they go out oversease they enjoy everything with theire wife and other.