Love in the time of chaddis

Drink in protest, kiss in protest, and celebrate Valentine’s Day in protest, writes Damini Purkayastha.

I really have no opinion on Valentine’s Day. I did, once upon a feminist time in LSR, when we somewhat-socialists hated all the marketing gimmicks in the world. Besides that, I really didn’t care... until Mangalore happened and groups across India made Valentine’s Day a political debate.

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When and how V-Day came to symbolise a woman’s dignity and independence is stuff for future sociological enquiry. The mysterious association will be traced back to hoodlums in Bangalore and activists in Delhi. The Pink Chaddi Campaign and the Pub Bharo Andoloan will be cited in every article about how V-Day became no less than Independence Day.

As I write this I hope all the couples of Delhi (heterosexual, bi-sexual and just sexual) are out there — kissing on the streets, snogging in the parks, making out in movie halls and getting totally sloshed in pubs. It is your moral obligation to do so.

Before the Ram Sene becomes the Taliban and every right-wing party imposes their own brand of rubbish on women and society — drink in protest, kiss in protest, and celebrate V-Day, in protest.