Image by Getty Images via Daylife
NEW DELHI (UCAN) -- Some Hindus and Muslims have threatened to disrupt Valentine's Day programs, but others, including Christians, see such actions as politically motivated moves in an election year. Those opposing the Feb. 14 celebrations dismiss them as part of a decadent Western culture influenced by Christianity. They see lovers who exchange cards and gifts or go on dates as violating traditional Indian values.
On Feb. 12, however, under public pressure, Sri Rama Sene (army of Lord Ram) called off its plan to disrupt Valentine's Day programs in Bangalore, Karnataka state's capital. Its statement said it did not want to damage the image of Karnataka's government.
The Hindu group, based in the southern state, had threatened that its members would look out for couples celebrating the special day in public and take them to temples where they would be married. If the woman objected, she would be forced to declare that her lover is her brother.
Other Hindu groups also vowed not to allow "vulgarity" on Valentine's Day, and a Muslim group joined them.
The Students Islamic Organization of India announced on Feb. 9 that its members would organize anti-Valentine's day campaigns in college campuses in Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi. However, the group said it would not undertake any kind of moral policing.
Women and youth groups had protested Sri Rama Sene's plan to disrupt Valentine's Day programs, which it announced on Feb. 4. The newly formed Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women, for example, appealed to Indian women to send their pink underwear to the consortium. It would then send these to the Hindu group's leaders.
Father Alwyn D'Souza, secretary of the Indian Catholic bishops' Youth Commission, says the anti-Valentine's Day campaigns "are politically motivated" and have "nothing to do" with Indian culture. In his view, the groups behind the campaigns want to make their presence felt ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for May, and some political parties support them to gain political mileage.
The priest noted that people in the West celebrate the day to express love through cards, gifts and various programs. Millions of cards are sold at this time, second only to the Christmas season, he added.
In India, he continued, businesses have "hyped up" the celebrations to target young people, one-third of the 1 billion population, while youths seek to be part of a "global generation" by joining in such international celebrations.
In any event, violently opposing such moves in the name of culture is wrong, Father D'Souza asserted. Culture is diverse and continually evolving, he pointed out, so no one can dictate what is or is not Indian culture.
Sajish Jose, 26, president of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement, sees the controversy as both "very sensitive" and "a matter of freedom." He said young people should be allowed to enjoy their freedom with responsibility.
Samuel Jayakumar, general secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India, the youth wing of the National Council of Churches in India, warns that youths will react against checks on their freedom. The 33-year-old Protestant is based in Bangalore, where students plan to stage protest marches against such moral policing.
Kasta Dip, who coordinates the Church of North India's commission for youth, wants people to express love on all days, not just on one day. "At the same time we should preserve our own culture with dignity," the 34-year-old remarked.
Several newspapers have also criticized the opposition to Valentine's Day celebrations and called for the curbing of Hindu radicals. The Hindu, a national daily, warned in its Feb. 7 editorial that moral policing has "fascist overtones" and could lead to vandalism, and violence against women and minorities.
Source: UCA NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
On Feb. 12, however, under public pressure, Sri Rama Sene (army of Lord Ram) called off its plan to disrupt Valentine's Day programs in Bangalore, Karnataka state's capital. Its statement said it did not want to damage the image of Karnataka's government.
The Hindu group, based in the southern state, had threatened that its members would look out for couples celebrating the special day in public and take them to temples where they would be married. If the woman objected, she would be forced to declare that her lover is her brother.
Other Hindu groups also vowed not to allow "vulgarity" on Valentine's Day, and a Muslim group joined them.
The Students Islamic Organization of India announced on Feb. 9 that its members would organize anti-Valentine's day campaigns in college campuses in Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi. However, the group said it would not undertake any kind of moral policing.
Women and youth groups had protested Sri Rama Sene's plan to disrupt Valentine's Day programs, which it announced on Feb. 4. The newly formed Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women, for example, appealed to Indian women to send their pink underwear to the consortium. It would then send these to the Hindu group's leaders.
Father Alwyn D'Souza, secretary of the Indian Catholic bishops' Youth Commission, says the anti-Valentine's Day campaigns "are politically motivated" and have "nothing to do" with Indian culture. In his view, the groups behind the campaigns want to make their presence felt ahead of the parliamentary election scheduled for May, and some political parties support them to gain political mileage.
The priest noted that people in the West celebrate the day to express love through cards, gifts and various programs. Millions of cards are sold at this time, second only to the Christmas season, he added.
In India, he continued, businesses have "hyped up" the celebrations to target young people, one-third of the 1 billion population, while youths seek to be part of a "global generation" by joining in such international celebrations.
In any event, violently opposing such moves in the name of culture is wrong, Father D'Souza asserted. Culture is diverse and continually evolving, he pointed out, so no one can dictate what is or is not Indian culture.
Sajish Jose, 26, president of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement, sees the controversy as both "very sensitive" and "a matter of freedom." He said young people should be allowed to enjoy their freedom with responsibility.
Samuel Jayakumar, general secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India, the youth wing of the National Council of Churches in India, warns that youths will react against checks on their freedom. The 33-year-old Protestant is based in Bangalore, where students plan to stage protest marches against such moral policing.
Kasta Dip, who coordinates the Church of North India's commission for youth, wants people to express love on all days, not just on one day. "At the same time we should preserve our own culture with dignity," the 34-year-old remarked.
Several newspapers have also criticized the opposition to Valentine's Day celebrations and called for the curbing of Hindu radicals. The Hindu, a national daily, warned in its Feb. 7 editorial that moral policing has "fascist overtones" and could lead to vandalism, and violence against women and minorities.
Source: UCA NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
No comments:
Post a Comment