Nature functions in its own way in geographical settings. Spring in the cyclic order brings about necessary changes in nature. The changes are conspicuous in the germination of new leaves, gradual disappearance of fog, gentle breeze from the south and the tune of cuckoos. A sort of freshness, at the termination of winter, prevails everywhere. Numerous flowers bloom in garden and wilderness, spreading aroma in air, and providing visual feast to the beholders. Birds and butterflies frolic around the groves. We feel enchanted by the strong urge of nature and sing aloud, 'Aha aji e bosonte, eto phul phote, eto banshi baje, eto pakhi gai' (Oh in this spring, so many flowers bloom, so many flutes are played, so many birds chirp). A host of other songs, out there, all for the expression of inner bliss!
The changes in nature also cause change in the mind of human beings, who feel a throb inside their bosom, writhing with passion, in harmony with natural cords. They listen to the twitters, smell the fragrance, and witness the green foliage, to be enthralled. They are blown away by the south breeze, to the vast open field, over the ocean waves, beyond mountains and clouds, up to the far firmament. They are left in a state of 'madness', in which their heart aches so they look for mates. They mingle with the redness of evening sky and the melody of soft moonlight. Their lips mutter: 'Bhalobeshe sokhi nibhrite jotone amar namti likho tomar moner mondire, amar porane je gan bajichhe tahar talti shikho tomar choron monjire' (Oh girl, write my name in the temple of your mind secretly and carefully, learn the rhythm of the song being sung in my heart with the jingle of your anklet).
In Bangladesh people welcome spring with various festivities. They have been doing so for long. They sing and dance. They dress colorfully and roam around. They go to parks, riversides and theatres. They breathe in freshness, giving life a touch of youthfulness. Men wear panjabi and women sari, mostly yellow, supposed to be the color of the spring. Women often adorn themselves with marigold, matching with their costume. Somewhere arrangements are made for fairs, where all kinds of people throng for entertainment. Under the shadow of the boughs, what do the couples talk? They talk their heart, through verbosity and silence, in the length of lazy hours, oblivious of surroundings. They exchange sight occasionally and get moved with the inner noise of passion. They become lost in each other when the external universe can virtually exert no effect on them.
In our country the celebration of spring often coincides with Valentine's Day, or they are juxtaposed temporally. The central spirit of VD is love. Love for the near and dear. The youth likes this particular day as they find an occasion to express their emotion to the beloved. Saint Valentine has created a rare opportunity for them. They are thankful to the generous soul. They hold a rose or a tuberose out to the partner with a gesture of warmth and closeness. They go for outings and make their desires fulfilled in the lap of nature. They enjoy the day to the fullest. They walk in the meadow hand in hand and lie down on grass to listen to the whisper of grass. They leap in water and swim together. They embrace each other with the promise of even stronger friendship. The blue sky is the umbrella over their head when their lips turn redder than hibiscus. Again they take the shelter of Tagore: 'Bhalobashi bhalobashi ei shure kachhe dure jole sthole bajai banshi' (I love and love in this tune near and far water and land play flute).
Many of us would think that Valentine's Day is an alien culture and we should avoid it. The conservative oriental senior minds fear it and discourage their wards to keep away from it. Free liberal life is unwelcome here. They prefer suppression to expression. They use religious values as a weapon. Disregardful to the realities, they wage war against what they call 'shamelessness', chanting the mantra of hatred. But they cannot go far and meet success. The heart talks and bursts out with a bang. The flood of passion cannot be resisted by the narrow wall erected on the border of cheap sentiment. When the morning birds sing, the youths rise. They buy flowers and present them to the entities close to their heart. The restrictive laws of the state and community collapse. The heart wins victory!
Bangladesh is a playground of nature. The six seasons yield their own array of vegetations, with distinct color and beauty, in cycle. It is the home of numerous birds which fill the air with their sweet tweets. Nature here nurtures soft feelings in dwellers. It makes their heart sing and dance. It renders them in poetic mood so they would write and recite romantic verses. They would sing bhatiali, murshidi or marphati out of their spiritual thought. The culture of folk music is so old and rich here. When the spring arrives, singing mood is only rejuvenated. As the bauls of villages would devote themselves to the unknown supreme spirit, the urban singers would also entertain concert-goers. So springtime festivity comes naturally to the Bengali people, who feel animated with the south breeze, the color of flowers, the sprouting of new branches and the flutter of avian wings.
The Bengali mind is full of love, naturally. Love for the supreme deity, love for relatives and love for friends. So it is natural that people here would celebrate spring and the Valentine's Day in befitting manner. Here spring spirit and Valentine spirit are mingled seamlessly, immersing people in the flow of nectar. It is futile to frown or utter the word of warning. Shoo away from the Valentine culture! No, no! The glowing heart cannot be suppressed. The Valentine's Day is a world culture and the Bengali youngsters would not lag behind in embracing it. Love is beautiful, love is divine! The saint of love belongs to the Bengali ethos as well. The spring celebrators will definitely celebrate the Valentine's Day!
The very word or person 'Valentine' should not distract us, simply because he comes from the western culture, because he preaches love. Is love a taboo in our society? Hasn't God created us out of sheer love? Doesn't nature nurture us with the love of a mother to her children? Look at the deeper meaning of the message of Saint Valentine. Love those whom you love, love those whom you do not love. Love every individual, love the whole humanity. Love all elements of flora and fauna. Love all inanimate objects, in and out of vision. Love every bit of dust on earth, of which you are made. Love yourself! Love is universal and we become lovable when we love. Worshipping love is the best of all!
The writer is Director, Daffodil Institute of Languages (DIL), and Associate Professor, Department of English, Daffodil International University
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