So, whether you love your partner or love your drink or love your life, step out on the town today — with your lover, your friend, yourself — and have some fun. What better way to stamp out Scrooge, to hammer down the humbug?

A rider, dear reader

At the very outset, we would like to clarify a few issues.

This is not a defense of our lifestyles aimed at the regressive right, which has been trying to impose itself on our liberated souls. Indeed, we have nothing to defend. India is, till now, a free country. And that means we can drink ourselves silly if we have to, with only our own sober selves and livers to answer to. We can go to the pub as long as we are of consenting age and have the money to purchase the pints we order. And we will continue to do so.

Second, we would like to point out that Valentine’s Day is the single silliest day of the year — not because it is evil, but because young people in love for one day suspend good sense in order to purchase all manner of red and pink paraphernalia and take over the town. To woo them, every shop and restaurant also gets decked in hearts, streamers and balloons, so saccharine sweet as to be worthy of Barbie’s birthday party.

But beyond lack of restraint and taste, what can possibly be objectionable about Valentine’s Day? What about this day is so threatening that demonstrations are deemed necessary?

If these reactionary forces stopped to think for just a second, they may consider that love and fun, friendship and camaraderie are very much a part of our culture — of every culture — and no one can separate us from them.

Instead of registering our horror at such blatant attacks on our freedoms, we will strike out by the most devious method known: we will celebrate. Valentine’s Day and Pub Culture. And to all those who object, we have these words of advice, very much in the spirit of Renuka Chowdhary’s pub bharo andolan: Have a drink, loosen up, feel the love.

V-Day voice

No one quite knows why February 14 is Valentine’s Day. One popular story goes that the good Roman saint Valentine married off couples in secret even though the then emperor Claudius II had ordered that all marriages and engagements be cancelled. The emperor believed that married men were reluctant to join his army. The saint disobeyed and was sentenced to death on February 14, 270 AD.

This charming little story could be one good reason to celebrate V-Day. “Never let the truth come in the way of a good story,” grins 28-year-old PR professional Barshali Bonnerjea. “I like all these days with stories. So if I’m celebrating Ram’s return to Ayodhya and Durga’s visit to Kailash, or Christ’s birth in a manger, I don’t see why the sweet old saint should miss out!” she laughs. Or she may just like the presents.

Software engineer Sunny Purkayashtha couldn’t care less about Valentine’s Day. But even he can find a silver — or rather, pink — lining. “I’m all for it if they have extended happy hours. And yes, I look forward to the freebies.” Stylist and designer Shahana Dutt, 25, finds V-Day secretly amusing. “I wish all my friends, always cringe at the constant romantic songs and messages on the radio, roll my eyes at the exorbitant displays, enjoy the chocolates (even if they are heart-shaped). I let the lover type be for they cause no harm.”

Pub perspective

There are no complicated stories to reel you into the pub, but its lure is as unmistakable.

For many it’s not really about the drinking (although there is that). In fact, many non-drinkers go to pubs as well. It’s about de-stressing. It’s about socialising. It’s about music. It’s about being young.

“It eases out the daily stress,” says Srijan Roychaudhury, 23, who works in financial services. “The music at Someplace Else is another draw.” A pub is an after-hours place to socialise, let your hair down and bond. Sunny prefers to hit Opium in Sector V once a week after work. “We generally stick to groups of three or four. The ambience, the crowd, the conversation all contribute to having a good time. It’s a great stress-buster,” he says.

Coffee shops with their bright lights and loud music are not always the best place for those in a mellow mood. “I like the feeling of going and settling down with a drink. There’s soft dim lighting, nice music and I’m in the company of close friends,” says Nandini Mazumder, who works for an NGO. It’s soothing just to think of it.

And for those who believe that these behaviours belong only to lost women, Nandini says: “We know our limits. We all have to go back home and face family. And if we’re not staying with family we’ll be doubly careful.”

Madhumita Mukhopadhyay, a 24-year-old schoolteacher agrees. “I go out for drinks about three to four times a month. And it’s generally because the whole group needs a place to meet after hours. We don’t drink to get drunk,” she stresses.

Or it’s just about the music for many. Take it from a college student who doesn’t even like pubs, but goes because her friends’ bands play there. “I don’t like them too much and I don’t go unless my friends play. The pubs are far too expensive and crowded,” says mass communication student Opashona Ghosh.

So, if the pubs weren’t there, where would the bands go? “They provide a stage for young and budding musicians. There is also a scope for them to be spotted by agents and music labels,” adds musician Joel Mukherjee. Pubs and nightclubs are an integral part of the live music scene in Calcutta, says Preanca Roy, drummer for city band Glass Onion. “It’s a great way to keep in touch with the audience. It keeps us alive,” she adds.

Such establishments offer steady employment for many, as well. “An average-size nightclub would have a team for security, service, management, marketing and kitchen. Add to that, there are suppliers. It’s an entire industry on it’s own,” says Irfan Ahmed, mixologist and partner, Soho.

Tradition talk

Then what of being true to your roots? If hitting the pub was not part of the evening’s entertainment a generation ago, does that make it uncultured? No, says Madhumita. “You need to pick which traditions you’ll carry with you and which are the new ones that you’ll create. The concept of Sati used to be a tradition. We left that behind because we are a more civilised society.”

Sunny laughs out loud: “Then what is part of our culture, beating up women? How ridiculous does it sound that women can go to space, but not to a pub?” Nandini adds: “And it’s not like we are the first generation to do this. This so-called pub culture has been there for quite some time.” In fact, it is part of our heritage, says Preanca. “As a musician when I’m performing in Trincas I know that Usha Uthup performed here in the 70s… at a Someplace Else it’s where people like Kochuda (Monojit Datta) and Amytda (Amyt Datta) perform. So for me it’s an honour.”

Valentine’s Day, for this generation, has become a part of modern tradition. “It’s not a big deal anymore, but it used to be,” admits Barshali. “I remember scanning the newspapers’ special supplements looking for a message. The other day, I was going through my diary and found an entry written when I was 14 — it had a big, black heart drawn on it and I had cribbed about how sad it was being 14 and single on February 14.”

Barshali’s school gang would write letters to each other to commemorate the day. “They ranged from mushy to corny to cute,” she smiles. And it has stuck — so much so that last Valentine’s Day she didn’t have time to write anything for her boyfriend but did send a ‘chatty email’ to her friend.

Not to forget…

…the fun! “For me it’s an excuse to dress up. It’s a chance to wear my nicer party clothes which I couldn’t wear everywhere without getting stares and catcalls,” says Madhumita. Those catcalls, of course, are an acceptable part of our tradition for the men who protest the wayward ways of women.

Whether it is first dates or bar brawls, the pub and the nightclub have been witness to many a momentous moment. Not all of them involve short skirts and tank tops. Samyogita Das, 23, business analyst, has memories of walking into Someplace Else on Navami night in ethnic wear. “Two of my friends were in saris, and the rest were mostly in ethnic wear. A couple of beers down it didn’t matter what we sang along to,” she laughs. Saris, Durga Puja and bonding? What’s not traditional about that?

What isn’t traditional about spreading the message of love? “Valentine’s Day isn’t about couples. It’s about unconditional love. From your parents to your teacher to your significant other, for me it’s the day to celebrate and spread the message of love and peace,” smiles Irfan.

But traditional or not, apasanskriti or not, it is most definitely a blast!

Perhaps it is the fun being had by others that is most resented by protesters. For prevention of such unnecessary anxiety, we recommend a revolutionary route: If you don’t like what you see, for one night declare a bandh on the doors of your own home. Stay indoors, save yourselves. Consider it your little bit of ahimsa.

Do you love/hate Valentine’s Day? Tell t2@abpmail.com