10,000 Surat Students Will Vow Not To Marry Without Parents’ Consent This Valentine’s Day

People often feel particularly passionate about Valentine’s Day in India. On one hand, television, radio and social media are swarming with date and gift ideas for your boo. While on the other, fringe groups and anti-Valentine’s squad menacingly gaze at couples.

Schools and colleges may have stayed out of it so far, but not any more! 15 schools and colleges in Surat have a very special Valentine’s Day ceremony planned for their students.

10,000 students in Gujarat will be sworn in on an oath advocating chastity and eternal loyalty to (not their lovers..but) their parents! The oath mandates that they obey their parents and do not marry without their consent!

TOI reports that the ceremony is announced by a voluntary organisation ‘Hasyamedva Jayate’ founded by laughter therapist Kamlesh Masalawala. Masalawala heads quite a few laughter and crying clubs in Surat. He spoke of the intention behind hosting such an event.

“These days, many youngsters fall in love and take an impulsive decision to get married. Many even run away from homes and get married, but such relationships turn out to be short-lived,” says Masalawala.

“We want to promote the importance of parents’ guidance when it comes to taking such a big decision of life,” he adds.

Poet Mukul Choksi, an organizer of the event, explains, “They (youngsters) don’t understand the importance of their (parents) guidance and the reasons for objection.

“Many youngsters antagonize their parents when the latter raise objections to their love marriage. By taking such an oath, these students will be better committed to respect the feelings of their parents,” said Choksi.

While you can imagine singles may not object to such an oath, couples might find that it clashes with the promises they make to their mates!

Samadrita Banerjee, a class XI commerce student of Sanskar Bharti says-

“I will be taking this oath for the sake of my parents. I will always respect their decision because no one in the world has sacrificed more for me than them.”

While it is not uncommon for schools to preach abstinence internationally on Valentine’s Day; vowing not to marry against parental consent, was hitherto unheard of.

Do your V-day plans pale against such epic sanskar? Tell us in the comments!