Transitional society’s
anomy is manifested in all walks of life. Materialism seems to be the driving
force behind this situation. High aspirations, increased unemployment,
increasing female workforce, night life, pub culture, deteriorating quality of
education, unscrupulous politicians, feminist movements, LGBT movement,
increasing privacy, more leisure time, influence of mass media, moral policing
etc. are indeed the characteristics of the transitional Kerala society. As it
is these factors may contribute to the good or bad of the society but
accompanying these transitions new norms are yet to crystallise or rather, they
are in the making. Thus man is confronted with the dilemma what side he should
take the modern or the traditional. Let’s look into an example which caught
national attention that took place in Kerala which was a conspicuous example of
anomie or the transitional nature of Kerala society.
Moral policing and Kiss
of love
The event kiss of love
-originated in Kerala and captured the attention of the whole nation- was in
fact a reaction to the increasing moral policing that have recently become a
pathogen on the educated Kerala society. The reason that the event caught
national attention was due to rise of intolerant right wing groups and since this
was the first outburst by the public or the post modernisers of the day.
State’s failure to take action against the moral policing has inevitably
culminated in the reactionary event.
On one hand the
religious leaders and political parties clandestinely or overtly opposed the
movement as it was against the accepted norms and customs of our society
whereas right wing outfits have openly challenged the event and finally the
event whether a success or not have shown us that there are people in our
society who dares to challenge the authority overtly. While this is a positive
element that I support the way they have chosen to speak against a social evil
is not something that I endorse. Perhaps the success of the event itself was
due to the method adopted by the protesters which was sure to bring the wrath
of conservatives.
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