Why are mutual respect and love's relationships worsening?

"Ekhono bhujhi na bhalo, kakey thik bhalobasha bole (I still don't understand what true love is)," poet Shankh Ghosh once said. Many people can raise questions about Valentine's Day as a day of love; however, whether you accept it or not, the 14th of Falgun, or Valentine's Day, has transformed into a much anticipated festival among the new generation Bengalis.

These two days are immersed in social media-dependent celebrations. Girls adorn themselves in colorful spring sarees, adorned with flowers in their hair. Boys dress in yellow or red Punjabis. The streets are filled with colorful festivities. Crowds gather in various cafes, hotels, and restaurants. Pictures are taken and shared on social media platforms.

Although our country's poets and literati may discuss spring or Falgun, Valentine's Day was completely unknown to them. It was only about three decades ago that the first 'Valentine's Day' emerged in the consciousness of the upper-class society of Bangladesh, following global trends. Corporate promotion gradually introduced it to the middle-class mindset. Now, it has almost become a national day. The celebration of Valentine's Day is currently being widely observed.

Many question the necessity of such a protected celebration. Is this not merely a superficial or destructive affair, rather than a day of love and affection? Is it more sacred than necessary in this world? What harm does it cause if there is some excess celebration on this day? Some argue that love is not just about one day; shouldn't we celebrate a day dedicated to love? Are we only going to express love and affection on this day? Will the rest of the days be spent in heartless indifference?

Some blame market culture. In this type of day, businessmen truly seize the opportunity for their product sales. It's essentially a day for various companies, including clothing, cards, and chocolate companies, to fill their pockets!

On the other hand, some people consider Valentine's Day as a game. Everyone wants to play for a day. If you have the money and desire and want to make someone yours in this consumerist festival, then you can also enjoy this day!

Poet Subhash Mukhopadhyay wrote, "Flowers may bloom or not, but today is spring!" Just as in nature, even if flowers do not bloom and the cuckoo's call is heard, according to the cycle of seasons, spring arrives, similarly, whether we accept it or not, today is Valentine's Day. Today, countless women will adorn themselves in the intoxicating breeze of spring, coloring themselves with the colors of spring, decorating the streets, parks, and green squares of Dhaka and other cities and adorned with colorful spring attire, flowers in their hair.

This touch of spring is not limited to within Bangladesh; it spreads across the world, resonating with the emotions of every Bengali. Valentine's Day means shaking off the stiffness, welcoming the chaos of new life, and holding hands with each other. We know that life is not always happy. Conflict, unrest, sorrow - they are there. We have to move on with them; but if we keep our minds enveloped in the shadow of sorrow and unrest, will our lives proceed in a graceful manner? No. Because, life is ever-changing. And within the spring atmosphere or Valentine's Day celebration lies that message of enthusiasm. The festival that gives us the message to let go of all sorrow and misery—may life be filled with joy. We hope for more; we hope for spring and a democratic culture in our politics, for the eradication of hatred and hostility.

In spring, we feel elated, we feel jubilant. Our hearts swell with joy. Our hearts will fill, because another spring has come into our lives! As we journey through life, no matter how many storms come our way, life is beautiful—life is a perpetual celebration. Each of us cherishes every day of life like the sweetness of spring forever within us. Days of life will pass away one by one; but the heart remains alive. Eternal spring remains awake in the depths of our hearts. Then let it grow, let it not age. Let the various flowers, the jasmine—let the honeyed melody of songs spread across the world, let the rainbow adorn the sky with its seven colors in a unique enchantment around us. Let life be a delightful dream. Even amidst sorrow and adversity, may these dreams never be lost from life. So, as long as we live on this earth, let us live with a beautiful spring-like heart. Let us live for everyone, for everyone's sake.

Another thing, we must definitely observe Valentine's Day. The signs of love must fly. We will sing love songs loudly; but let it not turn into a cheap festival in any way. Young men and women must understand the importance and essence of love. They must realize it. When we loved someone, held their hand, poured out our feelings, and then faced 'heartbreak,' let go of their hand, and walked away in the opposite direction, such an attitude is not very healthy for society. Love should not become a 'game.'

Valentine's Day should not confine just one boy to one girl or one girl to one boy's love. It's as if we can all love everyone, not just for one day, but every day—such a commitment is necessary.

Our society has become terribly unstable and intolerant nowadays. When we look around, it seems like qualities such as patience, tolerance, and empathy have almost disappeared among people. There is always an aggression, a sense of conflict prevailing among everyone. Few can tolerate others. When someone sees others doing well, it seems like their heart burns with envy. In trying to extinguish that fire, thoughts of destruction and revenge arise in the minds of those involved. And the consequence of that is the emergence of unpleasant, emotionally dangerous events. Where has that distinct identity and independence, which gave Bengalis a separate name and freedom, gone? In today's Bengali faces, how much of those remaining qualities of character and attire are left? Bad temperament, uncontrolled ambition, selfishness reigning supreme and distance growing between people and their loved ones—these things seem to have escalated. Like a poisonous vine growing on top of the well, Facebook, Messenger, Twitter, Viber, WhatsApp, and thousands of other social networks have awakened. Alongside, the habit of sitting together and expressing one's thoughts is being destroyed by these mechanical affairs.

All combined, perhaps the bonds of our everlasting relationships are becoming weaker and particularly unnecessary burdens for people. Self-interest, personal happiness, personal desires and personal comfort have become predominant. The bond of affection, the web of love that parents, siblings, spouses wove leaving society aside, is now loosening. Our mutual respect and the relationships of love are being neglected. The reverence for parents, the prosperity of children, the respect for teachers, the value of the virtuous, the importance of colleagues and dear ones—nothing seems to matter to us. And as a consequence, if something unpleasant happens, we immediately rush into suspicion, criticism, and blame the police.

Certainly, there is deviation. Affectionate parents, responsible children, compassionate and virtuous people still exist. But behind this deviation, are we exacerbating today's escalating confusion, instability, and intolerance? Are we making such claims with full confidence, as if asserting our self-confidence? Or is doubt increasing day by day regarding the stability of our relationships? Then where is the importance of celebrating the spring or Valentine's Day?

Author: Columnist