News from India
It's time for what has become the annual update on the Great Indian Valentine's Day Controversy.
In case you have only recently joined us, self-styled "defenders of Indian culture" have protested, often violently, against the de facto adoption of Valentine's Day into the calendar of many and varied Indian festivals. And it's not just "Hindu nationalists" - reports indicate Muslim hardliners as equally incensed. Looks like a great opportunity for interfaith bonding against a mutually recognized "threat."
Mind you, no one in the pro-VD camp is suggesting that VD be an official, government holiday...the cultural curmudgeons just don't want private citizens strolling hand-in-hand or sending valentine cards.
The recent Mangalore pub incident has the Moral Police back in the headlines, major. (As Richard Gere, Shilpa Shetty and Khushboo can tell you, they are not to be trifled with.)
This year, there's a very creative response - the Pink Chaddi Campaign from the Consortium of Loose, Forward & Pub-Going Women. PCC asks participants to send a pair of pink women's undies (any size, style or fabric) to the head office of the Moral Police - mailing address found here.
No, Valentine's Day is not a part of traditional India.
Neither are televisions, cell phones, DVD players or cars. Or speaking English, for that matter. Or cricket. What a great idea - let's get rid of all those, too!Even in America, I personally always found "V D" to be an obnoxious holiday, regardless of one's relationship status. If you are not attached, VD sucks for obvious reasons. Even if you are, it puts insane pressure on the relationship to prove itself visually and materially. Yuck! But if someone chooses to celebrate it in whatever fashion, that is their choice. My anti-Valentine's friends and I used to have an annual "Love Stinks" party, the apex of which was playing the J. Geils anthem at full volume.
One of the Ram Sene's threats is "tie or die" - that any couple found holding hands or "canoodling" on the 14th will be forced (by them) to marry then and there on the spot. OR ELSE.
Now, despite the death threat, let's try to look at this in a positive way. What a great opportunity for all the gay and lesbian Indian couples who otherwise could ne
ver marry! Now's their chance!Subhamoy Das of About.com Hinduism has thoughtfully provided an overview of (shock!) romantic love stories found in the annals of traditional Hinduism. The image at right is one of the more G-rated depictions found in "traditional" art.
Perhaps no other faith glorifies the idea of love between the sexes as Hinduism. This is evident from the amazing variety of mythical love stories that abounds Sanskrit literature, which is undoubtedly one of the richest treasure hoards of exciting love tales.
Let's face it, the western Cupid is just a cheap, cherubic ripoff of the god Kamadeva.
Posts
16 comments:
Sirens,
For one thing, Kamadeva (lord of lust) was burned by Shivji. That should tell you what ancient Indians though of lust.
@Raghubeer: I never said they revered lust. Cupid has pretty annoying roles in western mythology as well. My point is that Kamadeva is recognized and has a role. I don't think we can extrapolate what all ancient Indians thought of lust by one story, when the temples are covered in artwork that appears to celebrate the sex act.
Calling Mahadeva "Shivji?" i thought Shivaji was the name of a war hero. I've never ever heard the god addressed that way. Let's not turn "chhatrapati" Shivaji into a deity (too late for that evidently).
---and furthermore, Kamadeva was resurrected for the sake of his would-be widow.
Shivji, not Shivaji is a common term for Lord Siva in north India.
"when the temples are covered in artwork that appears to celebrate the sex act"
: what temples, Khajuraho?, Konark?
Khajuraho was made by a raja who loved sex. It is not a recognized "tirtha". Sorry but we Hindus don't consider that our "mecca".
It just shows everyone in ancient India has freedom of expression. Expect for the eastern area where Shakta cult is active, do majority of temples have erotic sculptures. But even here there are different strains of Vedic religion ("hinduism"). For example Assam also has a Vaishnava tradition that is downright puritanical compared to the local Shakti cults.
*Expect in the eastern area where Shakta cult is active, majority of temples elsewhere do not have this erotic carvings.
Sorry I mistyped that sentence
Happy Kamadeva's day!
I have a question. What about HOLI? There is an Indian holiday that has far lustier, more rude manifestations than anything traditionally associated with V Day. Perhaps it was not intended as a day women are attacked but it has become so. Who's objecting to that?
Everyone has good points here that I would like to address. But in the interests of time:
@Raghubeer: -Name one way in which your POView differs from that of the Taliban. "Women should not move abour freely; anything that is not traditional should be destroyed." What separates such views from those of the Taliban?
-Calling the women who go to pubs "whores" is what is known as an ad hominem attack (in this case, ad feminem). In other words, a personal character slur that does nothing to further your argument and could be construed as libel (just ask Barkha Dutt!). In fact, since I occasionally go to pubs, I take it as a personal attack.
And, re: Ms Susan's faith: the last time I checked, it was not a crime to be a Christian. Not even in India. Nor does it detract from her qualifications to lead such a protest movement.
@Sudarshan: Thanks for your well-thought-out comments.
-We here in the west have long realize VDay is a silly, contrived holiday that is more about making corporate bucks than promoting "lust," love, romance or anything of the sort. But all holidays, including Indian ones, have become commercialized and distorted into gift-giving frenzies. An objection to the preponderance of "market values" in modern life should extend to those as well. I was surprised and disappointed to find that most major Indian holidays (Diwali, Dussehra etc) have just become shopping sprees more than religious festivals.
-and thanks for your comment re. the temples. True, not all temples have erotic imagery, though many do; many do not. One important reason we do not see more of the erotica is that it was eradicated by various waves of Muslim invaders. It is indeed ironic to hear supposed Indian patriots and Hindus objecting to erotic depictions. They would seem more at home in the Taliban.
@Sudarshan: I understand that "Talibanization" is more accurately applied to restrictions on everyday life. But weren't the Mangalore women just participating in daily life? They were not in a pub for V Day, the attack took place in january.
I think V Day provides a convenient excuse for the "national" thugs to do what they would like to do on a daily basis - Back To the Old School or else. That is fundamentalism, as also practiced by Taliban.
At the same time, such 'patriots' are the first to want India to "progress." You can't have it both ways. (Some of) India has greatly benefited from the open economy of some 15 yrs ago and some degree of globalization. They don't seem to mind so much all the money and technology and growing middle class. These objections seems to be selective.
I remember accounts of similar groups attacking the KFC outlets in Bangalore Brigade Rd a while back, in the name of anti-multinationalism. Are they still attacking Microsoft, Oracle, Dell etc?
Another question: let's get out a dictionary and look up a definition of "imposed." Imposed by the West? Where is the firearm aimed at Indian heads forcing them to buy stupid cards? Where is there any force involved? there is advertising, sure. To say that indians are helpless in the face of crass western commercial appeals is to say that they are so stupid, they are incapable of restraining themselves from following trends.
Bit of a disservice....
They have a choice of whether to buy, or not. No one is imposing anything any more than they are imposing the new Madonna Cd on India.
If there were a hegemony or monopoly truly being imposed, I would also resist such a practice. I don't see that here. The Indians who want V Day are buying V Day, because they want it....or have been suckered into being taught to want it. One can't fault the purveyors of schlock for finding willing customers.
More thoughts:
if Diwali catches on as a new holiday imported to America - with kids demanding fireworks, new clothes, sweets and so on- will India then be imposing globalized practices on America?
Doesn't culture evolve and change to accomodate new influences from all over? At one time (albeit long ago) Christmas was new to both India and the US.
The fact that V Day, however silly, was not part of traditional India does not mean it can't be part of Modern India, like so many other components from elsewhere.
--As it is an excuse to exchange flowery sentiments, frilly cards and lots and lots of sweets, V Day would seem to be a quintessentially Indian holiday. Also it has never been so 'sexual' in nature as many indians seem to interpret it. As children we give valentines to our best friends; families also exchange them. My father gives his daughters VDay candy every year! Nothing to do with romance, just affection.
--"frustrated that India has not been able to export..."
But Indian holidays ARE catching on in the west. Garbha dancing is so much fun, wait till the US kids start attending their NRI schoolmate's functions. it will be all the rage!! :-)
I just enjoy the way people debate on mundane issues :) It's actually more interesting than newspapers (which I never read) or fiction novels (which I always read)... (Boy, am I gonna receive some serious flak for this! *Starts barricading doors, changing email ids, SIM cards* :P)
My opinion (which hopefully I'm still "allowed" on) - SRS people need to get a life and/or job. They didn't have anything better to do, so they went about harassing innocent women and "propagandizing" "religious" "sentiments" and such hilarious kwap.. Don't most out-of-work and/or out-of-mind, self-righteous, brain damaged, seriously deluded/brainwashed/braindead/(refer above, I'm bored) people do that? Don't the news always cover such wonderful stories beyond our expectations? (again, refer out-of-work) Don't people with job/work etc. to whom any incident never happened (including me, of course) talk about it, argue, rebel for a few (time variations depending on intensity, atrocity and nature of incident), then get on with life? It's a simple truth, face it... Life moves on, in the long run, no one gives a damn :)
Besides, haven't the SRS got more than what they wanted? They got a temporary job of beating women up, appearing on news, making obscene phone calls to women, and sniffing pink lingerie (bite me) They got immense TV coverage, which nearly all Indians love. They've got me and you arguing about what they've done (I'm not arguing though) Some got free food in jail for a night (I think?) But most importantly, they got PINK WOMEN UNDERWEAR!!! All kinds too!! They must be W00t-ing on that for sure! Man, those things are expensive, they've probably made money enough till the next VDay!
@Raghu(beer) (sorry dude, couldn't resist :D) - I don't have a clue about Hinduism and kwap, mostly because I don't give a damn, but I'm pretty sure most straight Indian men do consider Khajurao our "mecca" :P (bite me)
@Sudarshan Gopalakrishnan - Love your name dude! (honestly) Reminds me of my childhood friend's name Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan Ranganathan. Oh, and I'm a south Indian too, but unfortunately my name's a measly Rahul :(
I'm surprised that a guy with intelligence such as yours failed to see the indiscreet wrath and con of the west! You should have warned us dude, via email, mobile phones and television, all of which I'm sure Indians invented and the west stole :O
PS, I know at least 5 foreigners who love India and follow our ways (which is a good enough ratio for me, considering there are 1.2 billion of us, and just 2/3 billion of them) and I would suggest you peek in at ISKON and Art of Living for starters. I dunno what they do there, so not supporting, just wondering (eat me)
@John - Is that a real day? If so, the anti-SRS have a new job! Roflolz!
@Sirensongs - Forgive me if I've been too sarcastic and/or unemotional, I'm just plain bored :) I simply love the way you parry back with your words :) That doesn't mean I agree with everything you say, though... Again, my opinions vary. Also kindly also forgive those hominids who can't block your counter attack :) Like I said in the Slumdog comment (Marathi politicians actually didn't understand "Slumdog" meant "gulli/jhopad ka kutta" which often they use in everyday speech), India is way too diverse for understanding... Do keep writing, it's a pleasure to read your posts and comments :D
Oh and before some of the offended intend to write back, I must warn them - I don't care :) Yes, I am what you think I am, and I'll just love it if you put it in words :D Good luck to you in life and all. If you do reply, I'll know you've read my comment, so thank you for that, and may the force be with you... (kill me)
Peace out..
Post a Comment