Meet the real life jodi savers

Jasmine Singh

Sanjoy Sachdev received more than Rs 7,000 just the day before he was to launch Love Commandoes, an organisation that helps couples facing resistance at home. The organisation not only provides them with legal assistance, proper security but also gives them a proper shelter where they start their married life. 

Sanjoy, the chairman of the organisation, was surprised with the response he got. More than that he was surprised to see how much society stood against love. Thus, he, along with volunteer members, came up with the organisation, which has till date helped 50,000 couples settle down. "There are many in Chandigarh, Panchkula, Punjab and even in Lahaul Spiti. We have volunteers across the country, including Chandigarh, Panchkula, Haryana who come to the help of those who want to get married but the society is all arms against them."

But neither do the regular death threats or any kind of danger inhibits these commandoes, "It's a regular affair. Because of threats we can't stop doing what we are. Love is a part of nature; this is a basic thing that everyone has to understand." 

Though these commandoes are looked at as saviours of love, they do not function blindly. 

No blind support please! 

Before they decide to help any couple, the love commandoes make a thorough check by scanning the documents, "Once we are sure that it is a genuine couple, only then we come forward with assistance. We provide them with a safe shelter where the couple can live. The only thing that the couple is supposed to do is bear the expenses of their marriage."

Apart from the volunteering chain with which Love Commandoes operate, they also have secret agents who ensure the safety of the couples. 

A happily married family man, Sanjoy is surprised to see society adopt double standards. "What I see is that arranged marriages are generally forced marriages. A marriage is an alliance where both boy and girl have a say and this is how it should be," shares Sanjoy who gives us a peek into his marriage and family life. "I married without any fanfare, no baraatis. And I took a handkerchief and Re 1 from my wife. I tide that rupee in the handkerchief and gave it to her." Not that Sanjoy generalises this to be the arrangement for marriages, he just wants that it should be governed by love. "Let the reason for marriage be love," adds the man who has also been a part of Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate. Though he was already popular, a mention on show did bring them under a lot of limelight. Still each day is a new struggle for these love commandoes, "We get all kinds of queries on our helpline, @lovecommandoes.org and we try to address each one of them, but we hope we are making some difference in the lives of people who stand for love. I wonder if a youngster can choose his or her own Prime Minister, why not his or her own life partner."

Asked to name some couples whom they've helped settle, Sanjoy laughs, "Apke Chandigarh aur Panchkula main to bahut hain, aur yeh bhi bata dain ki bahut kushi se reh rahain hain."

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