(In a lighter vein)

Celebration of the Valentine’s Day has come down to pink chaddis! Thanks to Pramod Mutahlik, his Rama Sene members and the Mangalore pub attack. “Pubs do not go with Indian culture…what about pink chaddis?!”

Garment manufacturers are reported to have received bulk orders for pink chaddis or ladies’ underwear after the Mangalore incident. There is a sudden boom in the sale of pink chaddis, they say. And, none of those orders are meant for ladies, mind you! They have been gift wrapped and parceled to Rama Sene members.

While the progressive girls of Indian cities have joined hands to teach Rama Sene members a lesson, Rama Sene simply refuses to learn.

Chaddis are meant to be worn. And, they are not supposed to be seen! They are undergarments, for heaven’s sake!

But, Muthalik’s men don’t seem to know this. I saw a picture of Rama Sene members displaying pink chaddis sent by “Pink Chaddi” campaigners to protest Pramod Muthalik’s opposition of Valentine’s Day, in the Hindustan Times of February 14, 2009. Is this Indian culture? I mean, display of ladies’ underwear by men? And, these men are not even blushing!

Normally, an Indian male would feel shy doing this. I mean, most Indian men would try to hide their faces when faced with such a situation. And, if the worst comes to the worst, they may even hide behind the pink chaddis! Would you like to be seen holding a lady’s pink chaddi in hand if you are a man? No—never! I think that is what one who is so concerned about Indian culture would do—hide in shame.

But, there is no trace of shy or shame on the faces of these Rama Sene members. They seem to be enjoying the act of displaying the pink chaddis and all the publicity that goes with it.

I am inclined to use the most popular refrain of television crew to get the reactions of the Rama Sena men: “Yoon pink chaddi haath me liye aap ko kaisa lag raha hai?!”

In all this confusion, one wonders where Pramod Muthalik is! Someone says, he is buried under a huge heap of pink chaddis from the carton loads of chaddis couriered to him by the “Pink Chaddi” campaigners and is trying to find his way out of that heap. What a way to celebrate the Valentine’s Day?!