The marriage of a Russian boy with a Ukrainian girl gives a glimmer hope in worst of times
An extraordinary marriage took place in the serene mountains of Himachal Pradesh a couple of days back. Everything about it was Indian except for the couple which tied the knot.Sergei Novikov, a Russian boy married a Ukrainian girl Elona Bramoka in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. It was a love marriage and the couple had been in love for quite some time, even before their countries of birth Russia and Ukraine went to war around six months. They chose the tranquil Himalayan town of Dharamshala to tie the knot far from the din of war in their own countries. That the couple chose love over war and did not let their politicians decide their fate is a great feat in itself. The common people like Sergei and Elona are living testimony to the indomitable human spirit which shall prevail while the people in power shall play their power games. It has always been common people who have brought about changes in the world despite the machinations of the powerful people, - tyrants, autocrats, and what have you. They are the source of positivity that keeps human civilization ticking. It is love and cooperation that shall keep the planet a safe and habitable place rather than the guns and missiles created to destroy it.
In the classic novel, 'War and Peace', Leo Tolstoy beautifully depicted the impact of the war on the people. The war leaves behind nothing but misery, dead bodies, broken houses, and broken people. And the only thing that can stop it is the resolve of the people to live a peaceful life. Mahatma Gandhi once said,"there is enough for everyone's needs but not enough for one man’s greed."It is not that countries at loggerheads do not cooperate. They do. Russia collaborates with the West in the space station, Pakistan offered relief material to India to fight Covid 19, and China and the USA set the agenda for fighting climate change in the Paris declaration. Indeed there is always room for sanity but then some vested interests try to upset it and create chaos to use it to their advantage. Such forces need to be nailed. Meanwhile, as Ukraine and Russia battle it out, the hope was getting a chance, far from the eastern borders of Ukraine where the fierce battle continues. No wonder the place where their love blossomed is in India. The locals extended a helping hand to the couple to perform the rituals as pundit Raman Sharma recited Sanskrit hymns and solemnized their marriage. It happens only in India!
