DC debate: 'Kiss of love' and the Indian society

Unfortunately, young students from university campuses are the guinea pigs even this time.

Young students with an adrenaline rush are the targets for the hatred instigated towards a particular religion, social norms and culture through consistent brain washing of the weak minds, which are already frail through their multi-media exposure to loose-stringed, empty, regressive western cultural ingredients and instant gratification.

The shame is these youngsters cannot differentiate between what to emulate and what not to ape in the social framework they are living in.

The result is the distasteful and deranged transformation from civil society citizens to stone age inhabitants, who disrespect and insult social structures developed over centuries with the clear purpose of safe, secure and mutually respectable coexistence of genders, castes, religions in this vast nation.

While public display of affection is acceptable in a few nations like France, Germany, England and the United States, the demographics of those countries with a majority of educated and urban population, indigenous cultural framework allowing these acts without causing disturbance and resentment in fellow citizens and with their religious framework open to accepting these actions, has no negative implications.

However, to ape selective components of a foreign culture by a bunch of shallow youngsters instigated by divisive forces, while choosing not to learn and apply anything positive like cleanliness, mutual respect, consideration or even being truthful of the very same foreign cultures exposes the bankruptcy of intellect and maturity of these youngsters.

Whether it is a beef-eating competition, going nude competition, public kissing and God knows what more programmes are in the pipeline of these shallow desperados they will not be able to even scratch the surface of the Hindu religious framework nor negatively impact Indian cultural ethos. But what they will surely succeed in doing is to expose their buffoonery and deranged mindsets.

Neither the actual civil society consisting of fellow citizens of these youngsters, nor their own fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters assimilated the indigestible brazenness of their public actions. No Indian parent approves their daughters and sons to indulge in this kind of low level, exhibitive, public exposure.

Indian society has always been since centuries an open, liberal, evolving, tolerant and expressive society. If it were not, we could have still had sati, untouchability, blind superstitions of the bygone era. There is a difference between being open, expressive, free and a liberal society to being impudent, blatant and unabashed. Indians can never be the latter, our fundamental values are such.

In any civic society and especially in a nation like India there is no place for violence as a form of expression or to curtail expression. Issues cannot be resolved by shutting down one party even if they were to be on the wrong side. The Indian ethos propagates peaceful resolution.

In the recent ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign at a local university, there was a girl holding a placard saying, “Even if I am nude in public, I am not asking for it.” She might not be asking for it, however, one wonders why does she even want to be nude in public.

Krishna Saagar Rao: BJP official spokesperson, Telangana state.

‘Kiss of Love’ was to have members of the civil society come together and kiss in public, an act which didn’t require a lot of effort or thought. It was clear and simple. As individuals in an increasingly violent world, a little love won’t do anyone much harm, would it? It was to have mothers, fathers, friends, lovers come together and express their affection for their loved ones.

The participants were convinced that their Right to Freedom of Sp-eech and Expression, a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19, would safeguard their said act of kissing. After all, there have been various times in history where actions ranging from stripping to walking around naked were considered absolutely fine.

Please Google sadhus in Kumbh Mela and you will have some references. Little did they know that no, Constitutional morality doesn’t matter. Public morality does. Dr Ambedkar had been very clear about what prevails when there is a clash between constitutional and public morality.

Constitutional morality stands for what rights the governments give you, whereas public morality is what a bunch of people think and propagate. The organisers thought they were spreading love, now instead they have Section 294 cases slapped against them. Section 294, another joke, vague and ambiguous.

Coming from the country where the Kama Sutra was born, it’s a little tough to believe. Come on, give our forefathers some credit. I wish I could figure out how these brains function. Otherwise, their logic just doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t look at this as a protest which has been organised to defy the Hindutva forces.

Those who think that such protests are aimed at issues that provoke people, please book a ticket to Khajuraho, you will have a better idea of what is provocative or not. These protests are as mentioned above is meant for individuals to express themselves whether it is provocative or not should be left to them. Constitutional morality governs this and not public morality.

The moral police are nothing but a bunch of individuals who are looking to harp on their regressive notions of culture and morality. Their opinion hardly matters and I hope more such protests like ‘Kiss of Love’ or any other protest come up to silence the moral police.

Any time any such event erupt, which questions patriarchal notion of society respective of political parties will always make sure that they politicise these events in their favour.

‘Kiss of Love’ had other local versions too. While few saw no resistance, a couple of them had right wing forces barging into a gated university and physically attack students who had gathered in support.