Is this the land of love?

         February 14, the celebration of love and affection is upon us. It is the day when individuals propose their would be’s and anticipate their response. Many become success stories, some turn into heartaches. Shops across the country are suddenly stacked with heart adorned cards, boxes of chocolates, bouquets of red roses and teddy bears with cutesy messages.
 We are used to the Bollywood romance where Raj comes running to his Simran from Europe to Punjab or a Veer spends 20 years in jail to protect the dignity of Zara. But classic love stories have always been unsuccessful, Romeo-Juliet, Laila-Majnu, Heer-Ranjha,to name a few. Love is said to transcend boundaries of caste, religion and race. In today's day and age when these boundaries which should have been blurred and growing thicker each day.  

    Opposing inter-caste marriages and ‘Love Jihad’- the idea that Muslim men are trying to marry Hindu women and forcing them to convert to Islam has become a huge talking point. The Constitution of India gives its citizens complete freedom to choose his or her faith but not in the case of the Kerala born Akhila Ashokan whose conversion to Islam, becoming Hadiya and marriage to Shafin Jahan triggered a national controversy. The Kerala high court had annulled the marriage and given her custody to her father citing 'Love Jihad’. The most important point to consider here is that Hadiya isn't a minor, she is 24 years old.

     Many self styled vigilantes in the name of Anti Romeo Squads evade private lives of individuals and beat up unmarried individuals. Protests against Valentine's day have grown as fringe groups gain momentum in India. “Ek ladka aur ladki kabhi dost nahi ho sakte” is the guiding principle of these squads who wear saffron kurtis and carry hockey sticks. These squads established with the intention of protection of women by stopping eve teasing at public places haven't understood their job.

    In some parts of the country, falling in love could be a terminal condition. The eloping lovers are killed in the name of honour of the family, community or religion. In Nalgonda district of southern India, a thirteen year old girl was beaten and strangled by her father before he set fire to her body and tried to pass off her death as suicide. This was only because he noticed her talking to a boy. The recent murder in Delhi of a 23 year old, photographer, Amit Saxena, in broad daylight, puts the country to shame. These cases occur rampantly in the rural areas especially the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh bears testament to Honour Killings. The most horrifying is that the murderers do not show any remorse. Honour killings have become such a palpable reality in Haryana that the police have been forced to keep runaway couples in police lines or other secure places.

   In a country where Shah Jahan built the monument of love- Taj Mahal for his beloved Mumtaz, love doesn't harbour. The young are forced to marry within their community and their religion. The world is progressing with inter-racial marriages with Prince Harry’s engagement to Meghan Markle setting the precedent, we are still grappling with astronomical charts and Manglik dosh.