This whole #KissOfLove matter is overblown and misunderstood by these young neo-liberals and conveniently supported by leftist liberals.
Undisputed Fact: No one is objecting to an affectionate peck on cheeks or lips. Its natural and beautiful. (I didnt wish to describe it – but affectionate peck happens at spur of moment and is only momentary, maybe a second or two.)
Real Matter: The protesters at Tamil Nadu and JNU Campus in Delhi used this opportunity to indulge in long smooches / french-kissing & practically dry humping in public.
So the real question is are these young neo-liberals really ever going to continue long smooches / kisses lasting minutes at public places – roads, malls, parks, colleges, et al or did they just take another opportunity to attack the so called ‘Hindutva Forces’.
The protest by some organisations which included many civil society members – the ordinary people / citizens – (having nothing to do with the known ‘hindutva forces’) also protested against the protest titled #KissOfLove which involved prolonged smooches / long french kisses in public places making many parents / dads walking with their teen daughters, mothers uncomfortable.
Again, I reiterate, no one is objecting to an affectionate peck on cheeks or lips.
Question is long kisses of sexual nature, bringing discomfort in general to the passerby’s – should that be allowed? Even bigger question, beyond this protest episode, are these young liberal crusaders going to continue to indulge in such acts if they believe this is now the new normal?
I also hear some comments on social media comparing current protest against the #KissOfLove episode with the AMU Library decision and Fatwa against Bikinis. The comments have an undertone bracketing current protest with regressive mindset of a section of Islamic community.
Briefly, Aligarh Muslim University banned girls from entering library justifying decision by reasoning – girls distract boys. The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi has allegedly in past issued a religious fatwa against wearing bikini in India.
Now the protest against long smooching / kissing in sexual manner in public is quite different from regressive mindset of a section of religious community.
How are issues relating to civic behaviour / public decency even comparable with medieval / stone-age mindset of a section of Islamic community?
I am against any kind of beyond law censorship or social policing. I believe these young neo-liberals have missed the point.
Let me point out an issue and throw up a challenge to these young neo-liberals. There is a burning issue of lack of public sanitation infrastructure in India and in particular all metro cities which are populated beyond their capacity. The view of downtrodden defecating naked on road sides is a sight which triggers feeling of disgust / pity. It is remotely not sexual activity in public. That is a public issue which requires both public sanitation infrastructure and sanitary awareness campaigns in such areas both by government and civil society. Surprisingly, the participants to the #KissOfLove protest and their likes are absent through the awareness programs for such matters and neither there is similar public protest by these liberals against govt. for increasing sanitation facilities in city. I would encourage these young liberals to protest against lack of sanitation infrastructure by defecating outside govt. offices. We all know they are never going to take up this challenge.
Having said that, I have already stated that there is anyhow no objection from any quarter of society wrt affectionate hugs and kisses. Growing up in safe and liberal city of Mumbai, I am sure atleast my friends from this city will understand that when two friends or lovers meet, a hug or kiss whether on cheek or lips is only quite affectionate and not of sexual nature.
The matter of debate is whether long smooches of sexual nature and practically dry humping in public places should be accepted as ‘new normal’.
PDA – Public Display of Affection vs PDS – Public Display of Sexual activities. Where’s the line or should there be one?
On lighter note: the only entity to my mind which benefited from this #KissOfLove matter is Parle Products Limited which has immediately pulled out its ‘Kissme’ toffee advt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHirDpNfEV0.
[The blog originally appeared on November 11, 2014 at my old blog site here: http://ajayrdave.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-shallow-and-perverted-neo-liberal.html]