Thursday 5 February 2009

obscenity

It's been long since I have visited my own space here. A news that appeared yesterday forced me to be here and pour my heart. The Supreme Court in India refused to observe kissing in public as an `obscene act'. It was shocking for me but full of joy. Finally, some sense prevailed on the judiciary at least.

Living in this most backward state of the country known as Uttar Pradesh, I had almost lost all hopes of people ever acknowledging kissing or holding hands as an expression of love. it was always ``insult to our culture and influence of western culture''. The horrifying vision of police thrashing the young girls and boys who sat in parks to spend some quiet loving moments on Valentine's Day, is fresh in my memory. Things like a senior politicain banning the beauty paegants was accepted in this state.

I could never hold the hand of my Irish partner in public fearing criticism. I went through the ordeal of changing from my favourite jeans to a loose salwar kameez in case I was going to a government office.

In such circumstance, the Supreme Court observing kissing as an expression of love came as a whiff of fresh air. However, what left me puzzled was a joinder by the court which stressed on the pointthat the couple though claimed that they were married , the police still arrested them.

Now the question is -- what if they were not married? Arn't two adults allowed to kiss in public?

Fine! Kissing falls under obscenity if the kissing couple is not married.

Now I have a question for Supreme Court ----

What about those men who unzip their trousers anywhere at the side of the road, take out their willie and pee - with the whole world watching them? Isnt it obscenity? How many times a man has been thrashed or arrested for showing his bits to the public? Why doesnt the police react to this exhibitioniosm? The police constables too can be spotted anywhere on the road with their pants down shown. Isnt it obscenity?