Rakshabandhan, a Hindu festival, is a solemn promise based on a trustworthy, loyal, firm and never to be altered relationship between a brother and sister, whereby the sister endows blessings for longevity and brotherly-sisterly mutual love, and in turn expects protection from her brother or other person wishing to take the place of her brother; but certainly neither from a close male friend nor a man who has an axe to grind to turn out to be her lord and master who intends to bring her under his control.
Under the pretext of an era of movements for liberation and rights, the author has muddled up Rakshandhan and Valentine based on quite opposite relations. Social interaction for a couple to produce judgement and choice, wishing good health and happiness to each other promoting trusts and cooperation as partners in life, and appreciation of creation of gifts of a man and a woman strictly relates to St Valentine’s Day.
It’s blasphemy and craftiness from a muddle-headed person to think of a woman as an object of sexual gratification, and make such irrevent talk about God, mixing with religious and the most pious social relation of a brother and sister to be performed by tying a Raksha - a symbol of longevity and protection, to expect a brother to be dutiful to his sister for her lifetime.
RN Patel
Essex
