Valentine’s Day bridges up Bengali cultural heritage with progressive western visions

 
As Valentine’s Day comes back to us once again with the message of love and amity, it hurts us to see the absence of harmony and peace all around us. There are disputes, antagonism, intolerance and inhumanity almost everywhere. Political restlessness and different forms of socio-economic maladies have hammered us so hard that we cannot see love and sympathy anywhere. A painful scenario aggravated with the woes of uncertainty, panic and violence has cornered human beings in nearly all parts of the world. We have totally forgotten about the virtues of sacrifice, brotherhood, integrity and justice. Under these circumstances, love is the only remedy which can restore moral values and philanthropic principles across human societies all over the globe.

Valentine's Day is celebrated worldwide with extensive joy and festivities by people of all ages. It's widely popular as the 'day of love' to boys and girls in particular. Gift shops become crowded with customers everywhere even three or four days before 14th February. Being held on 14th February, Valentine’s Day comes during spring. Spring is the most colorful season in all countries. This season becomes all the more glamorous when Valentine’s Day gets added to this vernal period with the message of love. The first day of spring is celebrated in Bangladesh spontaneously by people on 13th February. This is like the beginning of the festivities which enhance the amusement on 14th February, Valentine’s Day.

Valentine's Day was first introduced in Bangladesh by veteran journalist and weekly Jai Jai Din's editor Shafik Rehman during 1993. Since then people across Bangladesh have been marking 14th February with heartfelt delight.

Love is all about dedication and faith. True love never offers any room for outrage or violence. Nowadays we see lovers going crazy and doing violent things when their love is not returned. This is absolutely unfortunate and it vividly contradicts with the true meaning of love. The real spirit of Valentine's Day conveys the message of tolerance, honesty and sacrifice. Love can be a very powerful instrument to combat poverty. If all the solvent people extend their helping hands for the betterment of destitute people in our country then poverty can be eliminated to a striking extent. The message of love and humanism should be sustained by politicians too for peacefully resolving all political issues. We can strengthen our fight against corruption fortifying ourselves with the enthusiasm of love.

A Latin proverb says “Amor vincit omnia” which means “love conquers everything.” While celebrating this Valentine’s Day, let us make a promise to place love, peace and humanitarian dictums on top of everything else for a lovelier and shinier tomorrow.