Shubhangi Khapre/DNA India

Mumbai, Feb 15: They say, love changes everything. Or so it seemed with the saffron brigade’s decision to shun violence on Valentine’s Day. Shiv Sena, which had become synonymous with widespread protests against the “western import”, had a change of heart this year when it chose to commemorate February 14 in the memory of Kalpana Chawla—the first Indian woman astronaut.

The shakhas of Sena’s students wing throughout the city were decked with portraits of Chawla, with an appeal to the generation next to place a red rose beneath them. Over the portraits, a saffron banner with picture Sena leaders Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray fluttered.

At shakha no. 194 in Parel, the table was covered with red roses. The local Sena and MNS workers, laying aside political boundaries, placed the flowers with to pay homage to the woman who did India proud. Sadanand Bhingade of MNS said, “Hats off to Shiv Sena for celebrating Chawla’s achievements instead of Valentine Day, which is utter  nonsense. It does not matter if Chawla is Marathi or not. She will always remain always in my heart.”

Baban Shellar, another MNS worker, expressed similar sentiments. “Party politics is not the issue here. We are talking about a great woman who will be revered by everybody.”

Prashant Belnekar of Sena’s students wing said, “We chose Chawla because she died on February 1, 2003 while returning from her Columbia space voyage. Such individuals should become the inspiration of the young generation.” Groups of young sainiks patrolled college premises to ensure girls were not harassed by men forcing them to accept their Valentine greetings.