'Mass kissing' protests in Kerala cities against moral policing

‘Mass kissing protests’ called ‘Kiss of Love’ have been planned by a social networking group in the cities of Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram in the southern Indian state of Kerala to protest against ‘moral policing’, after activists of a political party smashed up a new hotel in Kozhikode.

The kissing protest could be the first such event in a state known for political activism and demonstrations for the silliest of reasons.

Down Town Cafe, a nine-month old hotel and restaurant started by a group of young entrepreneurs, was allegedly ransacked by a group of young radical political activists alleging it is a rendezvous for young lovers, mostly college students, in the city.

The attack on the hotel was provoked after Jaihind Television, owned by a rival political party, aired a report on October 23 with visuals of ‘immoral activities’ allegedly taken from the parking space of Down Town Café in Kozhikode that showed young couples kissing and embracing.

The issues of morality in public and moral policing have become topics of heated discussion in Kerala’s media and social networking sites. The overseas Keralite community has also joined the debate.

An appeal for the mass kissing event, planned at 5pm on Sunday, November 2, at Kochi’s Marine Drive, is being spread through Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. A group of young men and women plan to kiss or hug in public, in protest against alleged moral policing.

A large section of Kerala’s society, however, is concerned about the loose morals of youngsters, especially students, who are influenced by western culture and romanticism spread by the media. They say there are other serious issues that the youth need to focus on rather than imitating western societies.

A Facebook page, Kiss of Love, made on October 24, appeals to all lovers, irrespective of age, to participate in the protest against alleged moral policing. However, the FB page shows only 8,510 likes and 2,722 members of the group planning to attend the public kissing protest.

According to the page, participants have to bring a placard with a ‘Kiss of Love’ message written on it. They argue that young lovers have the right to kiss in public with mutual consent and there is no need for moral policing to control them.

“While mature behaviour is expected from the youth, taking law into their hands to do moral policing is wrong,” said MCA Naser, a social worker in Dubai.

The dates for mass kissing protests in other cities of Kerala have not been finalised yet.

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