Dr Tariq Rahman
Valentine’s Day (14 February) is a festival which dates from the 14th century in Europe. It may even have been celebrated earlier but records of those times do not seem to be known. Greeting cards were sent even in those medievaal times. From the 16th century Valentine greetings on paper were also sent. Moreover, there were hand-painted copperplates, woodcuts and lithographs to commemorate this day.
Perhaps the most ill-omened of all Valentine cards was the one Thomas Hardy’s character Bathsheba Everdene sent to Farmer Boldwood merely as a girlish prank. Poor Boldwood became so infatuated with Bathsheba that he went to great lengths to woo her. In the end there is murder and disaster and tragedy descends on the scene---as it generally does in Hardy’s navels.
Pakistan did not know about Valentine because of our taboo on an open expression of romantic love. Eid cards were probably the only cards which have always been exchanged since they have been printed in our part of the world. However, as affluence increased among the middle classes they started exchanging birthday cards, wedding cards, cards accompanying gifts, get-well cards and so on. Although Valentine Cards were probably the first cards to be exchanged in Europe, they have caught on in Pakistan only in the last few years.
One reason for this is, of course, that the industry makes cards. But the industry would not have made them in the first place if there had not been a demand. This demand comes primarily from the urban, Westernized young people who are exposed to cable T.V, foreign movies, books and magazines and some of whom have travelled abroad.
Some people say that Valentine was a saint and it is to celebrate him that the cards were exchanged. This, however, is not substantiated by any reliable historian. It is true that two people died in the 3rd century in Rome. One was a Roman priest and physician who was killed when the Roman emperor Claudius II was persecuting Christians. Later, when Christianity was established, Pope Julius I built a basilica over the place which was known as his grave. The second was the Bishop of Terni (Italy) who was also killed in Rome. His remains were then taken to Terni. Some people say that both were actually the same. Anyway, both are called Saint Valentine.
There is nothing known to connect the saints with romantic love. Most probably the Lovers Day is called Valentines Day for some other, unknown reason. Anyway, it is a day on why people send cards to each other for fun. Of course, shy young people, hiding behind the occasion, make amorous overtures and there is an air of festivity all around.
In Pakistan and India, however, Valentines Day is becoming a controversial issue. The young, affluent people in both countries want to celebrate it. The traditionalists are against it. With traditional South Asian hypocrisy people define ‘lovers’ as members of the family, brothers and sisters and so on. This may be a cultural variation but traditionally ‘lovers’ meant girls and boys or men and women not necessarily---and not usually---married to each other. It was romantic love which was being celebrated not mystic love, familial attachment or the concept of love in the abstract.
The traditionalists are aware of this. They argue that this is a foreign custom. It comes from the West and that it will promote open expression of romantic, and erotic, love. In India the Hindu extremists call it an encroachment on their traditional values. In Pakistan the clergy has not awakened to Valentine but the traditionalists have attacked it for the same reason in the Urdu and the English press.
I believe the only legitimate ground for opposing it is that it is owned only by a very small, Westernized elite which is already alienated from our common people and looks down upon them. However, since it gives pleasures to some in a pleasure-starved land, it need not be opposed much or vehemently. Probably the best thing would be not to make on issue out of it at all.
Another opportunity for fun, and this time a spring festival, is Basant. This is the time for kite flying, wearing yellow clothes and fun. This is a custom which is common to all classes and is genuinely indigenous. It was probably celebrated in the Indus Valley thousands of years ago too. As this is not a class-specific festival, it should be encouraged and supported. What should be opposed, however, is flying kites with metallic strings because they disrupt the supply of power. Another thing which will kill the spirit of Basant is the fact that the elite is appropriating it and making it an expensive occasion. Basant is colourful; Basant is full of laughter; Basant is full of activity but the best thing about Basant is that even the poor can enjoy it. They too can fly kites. The rich will soon make something else out of Basant. This is bad but I hasten to add that any law by the state---like that about providing no food at marriages---would be useless. Let us not regulate our pleasures. As it is, there are very few of them anyway.