Not a protest, it's a celebration: Swara Bhasker on 'India My Valentine' initiative

With over 30 artistes coming together to celebrate love and unity in the country as part of "India My Valentine", actor Swara Bhasker says the aim of the initiative is to take the conversation beyond an "echo chamber" and reach out to the masses.

"India My Valentine", organised by Swara, producer Aditi Anand, activist Fahad Ahmad and Mitali Bhasin, began on February 14 in Delhi and will culminate in Mumbai on February 16.

In an interview with PTI, Swara says it is time to include those who don't subscribe to the "ideology of hate" but aren't into aggressive protests either.

"Everything has become an echo chamber, everyone's talking to people who are already convinced. It's time to come out of that. The atmosphere is so polarised, there are people who are going for the protests, they are already there, but there is a population that may not subscribe to the ideology of hate but aren't interested in hard-core aggressive politics, protests.

"Those are the people we should also reach out to. We live in the same country. How long can we keep having this terrible polarised high pitched fighting?"