ಹಿಂದು ಹೃದಯಕಮಲದ ವ್ಯಾಲಂಟೈನ್

Dear Editor,

I read Ravi Belagere's article with a lot of interest. I live in the USA and had no idea that Valentine's Day has become an important day of celebration in India.

I also read many comments that condemned Ravi. I think we need to view the entire situation as objectively as possible. There are people who engage in indecent behavior in all parts of the world. We need to condemn them and punish them as per law.

This does not mean that we should strip everyone of his/her individual rights. Indecent behavior in pubs, streets, homes and offices have been happenng for a long time and will continue to happen. But we cannot label all lovers as indecent.

Valentine's Day is celebrated in the USA but there is no violence or indecency in public. People take their boy/girl friends to dinner, exchange cards and gifts and have a good time. Even elderly people take their spouses to restaurants, exchange flowers and cards. This is not against any religion nor is it illegal.

If Indian men and women, boys and girls truly have genuine love and would like to celebrate Valentine's day decently, why should Mutalik penalize them? Does the Indian law give him such rights to punish people? Is he the judge, jury and the executioner? If any one acts improperly /indecently, violently on any day, any where, at any time, Indian police should handle the matter according to law.

Has Mutalik taken law into his own hands? How does he have the right to force peope to get married or tie Rakhi? Does not the Indian constitution guarantee the rights of every individual?

If Mutalik wants to fight anti-Hndu forces, let him and his Rama Sena first identify the anti-Hindu forces in India who are using unethical, and even criminal methods to convert Hindus into Christianity and Islam. Let Sri Ram Sena organize a massive force to fight such forced conversions and let Sri Ram Sena start teaching the Hindu scriptures such as Bhagvadgita, prayer, meditation and worship to the masses and spread the true Hindu values.

Let them work with the poor, the sick and the downtrodden. One can be a great Hindu and still celebrate Valentines' Day. Does Hinduism preach hatred or love? Did not our Hindu heroes like Sri Ram prove that they were great lovers, great brothers and great warriors? Sri Krishna's love was divine love. Is he not considered as a great Hindu? I think Sri Ram Sena needs to think properly instead of interfering with people's personal lives.

If he sees any one acting indecently or criminally or unethically, let him report such peope to the law enforcement agencies. If they are free from corruption, they will deal with rogues. If they are like the goverment of Andhra Pradesh, they will encourage illegal and unethical conversions of Hindus and promote Anti-Hinduism.

Let our goverment stop discriminating against Hindus and practice true secularism instead of fake secularism that is punishing Hindus today in their own country and promoting Christianity and Islam using the funds of Hindus. Both our government and people like Mutalik need to identify the real issues affecting Hinduism and fight to preserve Hinduim against its enemies.

Thanks & Regards

Krishna Venkataraman, US of A