The meaning of love

Love. A simple four-letter word that seeps into our lives unpredictably and takes control of our five senses; our sight, taste, smell, touch and what we hear. There is no way one can evade this emotion. It is a word that is too powerful to describe. Someone once mentioned that love is “indescribable”. 

It is one of the most common searches over any search engines across the globe and possibly one of the top 5 in Google. Therefore, in an attempt to get to the bottom of the question once and for all, this author has gathered information across the internet through researching from various people on their perspective definition- on the much-pondered word.

After thorough researching, this author now has decided that there are all together 5 meanings to this word. 


'Love is chemistry'

Biologically, love is a powerful and a neurological condition like hunger or thirst, only it is more permanent. Everyone talks about “love blinds a person” or  “it is unconditional”, in that sense no one has control over it. But then, that is not so surprising since love is basically chemistry. While lust is a temporary passionate sexual desire involving the increased release of chemicals such as testosterone and estrogen, in true love, or attachment and bonding, the brain can release a whole set of chemicals: pheromones, dopamine, nor epinephrine, etc. However, from an evolutionary perspective, love can be viewed as a survival tool ‚a mechanism we have evolved to promote long-term relationships, mutual defense and parental support of children and to promote feelings of safety and security.



'Love has many guises'

Historically the Greeks broke down love into five different categories.  
Philia was seen as a deep but usually non-sexual intimacy between close friends and family members or as a deep bond forged by soldiers as they fought alongside each other in battle. Ludus comes as a playful affection found in ‘fooling around’ or flirting. Pragma is matured love that develops over a long period of time for couples who are in a serious relationship and involves actively practicing goodwill, commitment, compromise and understanding. Agape is a more generalized love; it's not about exclusivity but about love for all of humanity. Philautia is ‘self-love’, but it doesn’t mean tat one is selfish or cares for only their being and no one else’s. Aristotle once discovered, in order to care for others you need to be able to care about yourself. Last, and probably least even though it causes the most trouble, Eros is about sexual passion and desire. Unless it morphs into philia and/or pragma, eros will burn itself out.

'Love is a passionate commitment'

The answer remains elusive in part because love is not one thing. Love for parents, partners, children, country, neighbor, God and so on all have different qualities. Each has its variants ‚blind, one-sided, tragic, steadfast, fickle, reciprocated, misguided, unconditional. At its best, however, all types of love is kind, passionate, and commitment that we as humans nurture and develop, even though it usually arrives in our lives unbidden. That's why it is more than just a powerful feeling. Without the commitment, it is just mere infatuation. Without the passion, it is just mere dedication. Without nurturing, even the best can wither and die.

'Love drives all great stories'

What love is depends on where you are in relation to it. How secure  you are in it, it can feel as mundane and necessary as air‚ you exist within it, almost unnoticing. Once deprived of it, it can feel like an obsession; all consuming, a physical pain. Love is the driver for all great stories: not just romantic love stories, but the love of parent for child, for  one’s family, for one’s country. It is the point before consummation of it that fascinates: what separates you from love, the obstacles that stand in its way. It is usually at those points that love is everything.


'Love speaks freedom yet binds us'

Love is more easily experienced than defined. Theologically , by which we love God above all things and our neighbors as ourselves for his sake, it seems remote until we encounter it unleashed, so to say, in this life of another ‚ in acts of kindness, generosity and self-sacrifice. Love's the one thing that can never hurt anyone, although it may cost dearly. The paradox of love is that it is supremely free yet attaches us with bonds stronger than death. It cannot be bought or sold; there is nothing it cannot face; love is life's greatest blessing.

Love is defined differently and it would be physically impossible to portray all these types of love for one person. Which is why there are our friends and our family to show us the other types of love that we would never be able to get from that special one.

UK punjabi enthralled Malaysian Fans

He made his fans all around the world go "balle balle", and now,  it was time for Jassi Sidhu to make the pumped-up and vibrant people in Malaysia at Southall II, Asian Heritage Row, KL feel the adrenaline rush through his blockbuster hits.

Fans singing along "Nah Rukhiyeh" with Jassi Sidhu

The UK bred Bhangra boy belted chart-busters and  made revelers fall crazily in love with his music especially with his London- British accent.

After getting pumped up by 24 of his hit music, I had a chance to meet the singer himself at the meet and greet session through the connection of my friend the Emcee, Bally Dhillon!!  It was nerve-wrecking to interview the famous singer, I had many thoughts gushing through my mind- all negative at first, until the singer gave me his prince-charming smile, that would make a nervous-wreck like myself feel automatically comfortable talking with him at the snap of a second. 

The British bred superstar was not only a breath-taking singer, but also a sweetheart during the 5 minutes (which felt like 5 second) interview.  During the whole course of the interview he revealed countless information about himself! 

Jassi Sidhu was born and raised in Birmingham, West Midland, England was one of the lead singers in the British Indian band B21, which he later spilt from the group to enhance his solo carrier in singing. His carrier blossomed tremendously and has toured many countries from U.S to Asia  and is an avid supporter of Liverpool. 
He has released 4 solo albums since, and his first release in 2003 plonked him a place in India , which he claims have him a more concrete foundation for his  solo career. "It was an amazing break-through," he mused. 
After his latest release in 2011, he made an appearance in BBC Asian Networking and told the media then that he would not be releasing any more albums after this. Although 35 year old singer retires from creating new albums, he wants to try other new things like signing a contract with the Bollywood industries and releasing new singles.

Jassi Sidhu during the meet and greet session

After the interview he went out and met fans who gushed through the waiting line to have him sign their posters and albums that they had previously bought.

The sponsors and organizer of this esthetic event, RMX eventz, Sweet mix roadshow and Trish events had planned a very successful event for people locally and internationally to truly enjoy the fusion music of Bhangra meet RnB music. They said that when the event was being organized, it was really tiring and cumbersome to get everything to turn out perfectly on the night of the event.  " Although there were lots to be done before the event started, I dont regret having driving around like a mad man to get everything going smoothly for the past few months" Sathish Singh from RMX Eventz said with a satisfied smile displayed across his face when I asked him how did he manage to pull off such a wonderful night.

This was a truly amazing experience and I would never let this memory of a life time be forgotten. Something I would definitely be talking about in the years to come.