World's largest school seeks boycott of Valentine's Day

Lucknow, Feb 10 (UNI) The world's largest school with 31,000 students on roll has decided to observe the Valentine's Day falling on February 14 as 'Family Unity and Marriage Solidarity Day' against its theme in vogue.

Lucknow-based City Montessori School (CMS) with 20 branches is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single city school internationally.

Addressing a joint news conference here this evening, principals of all the 20 CMS branches decried that a distorted version of St Valentine's martyrdom has been spread by ''unscrupulous corporate houses'' and a section of the print and electronic media.

''They are committing a sin to earn quick money by endangering the life and future of younger generation, without tracing the true history of the great sacrifice made by St Valentine to save the institution of marriage and family, which was destroyed by Roman emperor Cladius (II) in fulfillment of his selfish objective by banning marriages of his soldiers,'' CMS founder manager and eminent educationist Jagdish Gandhi said.

It is a crime against innocent children, parents and the society, he observed adding a day, when St Valentine was murdered could not be celebrated in merry by any civilised society.

Mr Gandhi said the present format of Valentine's Day was ''anti-Indian'' and one, which is eroding Indian values, morality and culture.

''The day has been given a wrong twist by multinational companies to sell their obscene cards, gifts and liquor among the youth,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the two private radio channels owned by CMS have been regularly relaying programmes on the ''real meaning and purpose'' of St Valentine's sacrifice.

''CMS film division is also airing multi-media films on the subject on all local TV channels,'' Mr Gandhi added.

The CMS principals reiterated in unison, that the popular concept of Valentine's Day was far more distorted in India, than even in the western countres, where people observe the day in company of their family members.

UNI