Breaking the monotony of daily humdrums comes the days dedicated to mothers, fathers and even lovers. The insipidity disappears, when those who know nothing about cupid or St. Valentine march towards the glorified gift shops in the sole fervour to invigorate their long lost love affair with love itself.
About 20 years back, not many in the state thought there was anything to celebrate in the state of being a mother, father or a lover.
Today, when Facebook walls are festooned with father’s day messages, the simple gestures of love like those precious moments you spend with your father sharing your little stories are lost in the transit of the busy buzz called life. When those prized moments take a backseat, these public displays of affection stand out like sore thumbs all over social networking sites.
When the daily exchanges of pleasantries dissolve into warp silences, our relationships befall into nothing but façades. When we are about to celebrate Father’s day on 16 June, City Express takes a detour from the customary route and asks a few about their view on these over-hyped days.
“Father’s day? What exactly is that? I am a father of a 2-year-old, will I be treated to a special dinner at Taj or should I expect a bouquet from my two-year-old,” asks Vaishakh, an engineer.
The sarcasm reflected in Vaishakh’s reply was in store for us all through our journey. But there are also many who has responded saying that these days are imperative to rekindle those lost relations.
Minu Rachel, a college student says, “I love my father dearly. I am closer to him than my mother. I can share everything and anything with him and he understands it. But I don’t get many occasions to tell him what he means to me so every year on father’s day I give him a letter confiding everything I feel for him.”
It all started when certain greeting card and entertainment companies in the US decided to expand their business by assigning certain days to mothers, fathers and lovers. Though not proven it was their ad campaigns that boosted the idea in the minds of billions and made it a rage around the world. Even third world countries like India blindly spend a small fortune at their doorsteps. The business flourished but the relationships lost its finesse.
“The whole idea of showing love for your loved one on a particular day just because the ads tell us to is just nonsense. I don’t think you need a particular day to show love to them. Moreover it’s not by buying them material gifts that you show love to them. Especially your parents, I don’t think that is what they would want. Buying them a bunch of cards or stuff like that is ridiculous,” says Payal, an architect.
Yes, relationships are far bigger than the festival. Compassion, love, togetherness, and honesty, the key words of relationships do not hold the same meanings today. If you can buy a sachet of love somewhere, today’s generation will willingly buy it and gift their parents a stingy two or three on Mother’s day or Father’s day. C’est la vie, says Gireesh, an IT professional. “I think all these days are overtly puffed up. My girlfriend makes a big issue if I do not gift her something on Valentine’s. Likewise, we don’t even know why 16 June is considered Father’s day but we celebrate it. I think all this is quite juvenile,” says Gireesh.
Unlike Gireesh, there are many who believe that it is all part of westernisation perching over our heads. When heated discussions of globalisation tarnishing our culture and tradition are brewing all over, Pradeep Nair, a media professional sees it all in a different light.
“I think such things are totally irrelevant in Kerala society. In the West Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are celebrated because their family system is different. For them those are occasions to remember their parents staying at old age homes. But do we need a special day to love our parents?” asks Pradeep.
‘Carpe diem’ is the watchword today, so instead of doling out a day for celebration let’s do it everyday and make the most of it!!
