Kiss of love?

Over the last couple of months, recent media reports, newspapers and TV channels have been flooded with headlines of Indian youth organizing a protest called “Kiss of love” to show their angst against Moral Policing by publicly kissing.

I'm sure it’s fairly evident from the title what I'll be rambling about on today’s post, yep; it’s none other than the highly controversial campaign “Kiss of love”. Come on; I had to post something regarding it sooner or later eh?! For those of you unaware of what I'm babbling about, let me take a moment to fill you in.

On November 2^nd, activists from all over Kerala gathered to protest against the series of moral policing attacks by organizing a public event in Marine Drive (Kochi) for the rights to be able to kiss in public. The protest started with a couple that had been seen in a coffee shop kissing, later on a political group vandalized the coffee shop they had been seen in. 

The Kiss of Love protest embarked in the southern state of Kerala last month and has now spread nationwide. The protest sparked off following a recent attack in a café in Kozhikode. The attack triggered after a local news channel - Jai Hind TV telecasted a story about alleged immoral activity which then led to hugging and kissing on the premises of the Cafe’. 

Recent acts of violence towards the youth of India by moral policing are what led to the campaign “kiss of love” by Kochi youth. However, the problem is that the protest ought not to be about kissing at all. A theatre artist and her colleague were detained for travelling together at night. A couple were arrested for suspected “immoral activities” on a bench in Alappuzha, especially suspicious because the woman was not wearing anything to indicate she was married. An IT professional in Kochi was beaten up by drunken men for riding pillion on a male colleague’s motorbike.

I couldn't care less about what people do privately and I have nothing against those who want to express love towards one another; however, I'm concerned of it being expressed in public. Not only does it affect the upcoming generation but, it also creates an impression that this is the only way to show thumbs down to moral police. I think we can have a better way of answering moral policing rather than one like such. All these protests have made me wonder if India has become so far gone that the youth of India has now fully adapted to Western ways. 

During my previous visit to India, I realized how much Kerala and its people are so influenced by the western culture, and how our moral & ethical issues are degrading. I saw some drastic changes in Malayalees, especially the youth. Not only were there changes in the way people dressed (girls especially) but also the way they acted & presented themselves. 

I know for a fact my cousins, friends and myself are people someone who look forward to going back home just so we can fully embrace our Indian culture & traditions. Something which really excites me about going back home is the dressing up part of the holiday, wearing churidhar's, saree's & what not! I LOVE the excitement of getting ready  each day especially those early morning wake up calls to leave for the temple! Gee, words cannot describe how much I miss that!  

What really surprised me this time was seeing girls turn up to temples wearing tight leggings/shorts and singlets/crop tops and no sleeve tops (To my fellow malayalee girls, you're coming to pray at the temple not for a fashion show; so please, kindly cover up your cleavage, navel and other body parts which we do not wish to see, please get your ish together!) and then there's us turnin' up all dressed up and mallu-like with our new churidhars & flower garlands in our hair! 

Our country has a vast and secular motherland, with an array of culture, traditions & beliefs. And personally, I wish if we could inculcate the good ways of other nations instead of copying everything they do. 

Today’s youth is brought up with the most twisted views, leaving them dangling between Indian traditions taught by their parents and the western adopted “cool” lifestyle as observed around us. The heavy influence of western styles on Indians has taught us that it’s our right to free expression - which by no means do I think is wrong, however; taking advantage of this right and showing affection in public isn't right at all. 

Recent acts of violence towards the youth of India by moral policing is what led to the campaign “kiss of love” by Kochi youth. However, the problem is that the protest ought not to be about kissing at all. A theatre artist and her colleague were detained for travelling together at night. A couple were arrested for suspected “immoral activities” on a bench in Alappuzha, especially suspicious because the woman was not wearing anything to indicate she was married. 

I agree, each and every person has the right and freedom to be affectionate and to express one’s love for another, but not at the cost of altering public spaces. I think the motive is good, but the path chosen to protest against moral policing, I'm not too sure about. 

I felt like this video was totally relevant here :') Shout out to Lakshmi Menon & her channel