Public Display of Affection

In the country where the stories of the love of Heer-Ranjha, Laila-Majnu and the likes are narrated with great pride, young lovers have always been disapproved of. India, where movies and songs tell sagas of love, has forced lovers into secrecy. It may be because of the beliefs and customs of people, or it may just be because people fear what society might say. It appears that the concept of brotherhood amongst citizens has been taken too far. People live, not by their own rules, but by the judgement of their society.

Though I am not the supporter of the people who indulge in public display of affection, I still believe it is not something that merits such opposition. Public display of affection is one of the few things that makes the observer more uncomfortable as compared to the people actually involved in the act. It is, however, a matter of choice for the concerned couples. Obviously the people who usually display their affection publicly are not very much concerned about public approval. They are comfortable with what they are doing and do not think that they are committing any great wrong.

Though the new generations may be at ease with the emotional kind of love, clearly, physical intimacy is not something that can be accepted by the society just yet. The cities however, are in the process of opening their minds at least a little bit. Where a girl and boy even talking in public aroused much gossip, now even a couple holding hands is rarely given a second glance. But a line must be drawn when it comes to hugging and kissing in public. Not only does the couple stand to have their reputation tarnished, but they also end up humiliating their families.

What is it that makes people exhibit their intimacy in public? The reasons vary from mere showing off, to reassuring themselves of the dedication of their lover. Of course the more practical reason of not having anywhere else to go may also lead couples to unknowingly create a spectacle of themselves.

Is being openly affectionate with your partner really wrong, provided you are committed to them? Right or wrong has always been determined by whether or not society approved of the thing in question. Though, love and affection isn’t wrong in any sense of the word, it is, and perhaps will always be, a very private emotion. Flaunting love is unacceptable because it goes against all our customs.

So to all those young couples who venture out to meet in public, this advice may be helpful – as far as possible, refrain from getting physically intimate publicly. Not only can it land you into trouble, but it can also bring a bad name upon your family. Remember, love is equally, if not better, demonstrated by mere words…

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