V dont like it

KOCHI: Today is Valentine’s Day, the day when people across the globe celebrate love. But one wonders if the D-day is becoming unfashionable here, at least judging from the responses we got from various personalities. Most said that they had never paid much attention to it. The reason being the obvious one, that love is eternal and one does not  need a special day to celebrate it. Their view is that love is a private affair and emotions attain dignity only when it is kept between the people involved.Film editor Beena Paul was most reluctant to speak on the topic, and implied that the question was not even worth asking. “I don’t have anything to say. I belong to a different generation,” is her short reply. M Beena who is the Managing Director of Vyttila Mobility Hub and CMD, Supplyco says that she and her husband never celebrate V-day. “We met and got married after a year and we have two children. That is the end of the story,” she says with a smile. Shiny Wilson, the ace athlete is all smiles but also replies that she has never celebrated Valentine’s day. “We belong to the old generation and such things were not known at that time. We did not even celebrate birthdays then. Now we do as our children demand it,” she says. Talking about her romantic life, the  athlete says that she and her husband never encountered any stiff opposition for marriage. “It was not a complicated affair. Everything went on smoothly as it was not that difficult to get a green light from our parents,”  says Shiny, adding that the task became easier as Wilson’s (her husband) mother liked her very much.“She really adored me and had an album containing pictures of mine which she had cut from the newspapers,” she says.Hibi Eden MLA who recently got married to the love of his life, Anna Linda says that he is totally against Valentine’s day.“It is well and good if the message is conveyed properly. Unfortunately it is not so,” he says. “Love has multiple dimensions. But people fail to realise its real significance,” he says. He also laments that commercialisation has crept badly into such D-days, robbing love of its true meaning.Love business bloomsKOCHI: The debate on whether one needs a V-day or not can rage on, but shop-owners selling cards, flowers and other lovey-dovey gift items are clearly looking expectedly upon the occasion as it means brisk business. SMSes and emails are of course expected to be exchanged thick and fast, but gifting is also high on the ‘to-do’ list.Compared to the previous year, V-day business has shown an upward swing this time. “Greeting cards have been selling well. Apart from cards, people are also buying photo frames, paintings and teddy bears to gift to their loved ones,” says Noorudheen, manager, Achu’s Greeting Gallery. He tells us that there has been a great rush for these items during the last one week. “Cards and paintings are in demand this year,” he says. Gifting gold and diamonds to express love also seems to be in vogue.