r/TwentiesIndia • u/midnightAbrocoma331 21 • 23h ago
RANT/VENT 😤 Indian society needs a change
Why is public affection still treated like some kind of crime in India?
Every time my partner and I meet, something as simple as sharing a kiss or hugging each other tightly turns into a mission. Instead of just enjoying the moment, we're constantly looking for a private corner where we won't be judged, stared at, or interrupted.
And even when we finally find a quiet spot, there's always that one random uncle who suddenly appears out of nowhere and decides it's his responsibility to monitor our lives. We're not bothering anyone, we're not hurting anyone, yet somehow our existence becomes everyone's concern.
What's frustrating is that basic affection between two consenting adults is still seen as "inappropriate" by so many people. Meanwhile, staring, moral policing, and invading other people's privacy are somehow considered acceptable.
It's 2026. Maybe it's time we stopped acting like a couple sharing a kiss is a threat to society and started teaching people to mind their own business.
Not every hug is indecent. Not every kiss is obscene. Sometimes two people just miss each other and want to be close for a moment.
That's it. Let people live.
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u/mloxxfox 23h ago
fr i can't even kiss my homie in public
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u/Final-Lab8384 bekar hai bhaiya, mai to tut gaya 😓 23h ago
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u/Dispossible_Agent001 22h ago
Can u in private?
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u/Sue_k_Madeek No Disco only Dard 21h ago
We had sex with my homies, he almost put out my socks while doing some kinky stuffs... sniff... sniff
I told no homo and pulled my sock up Its not gae if sock is on
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u/Even-Teacher4320 19h ago
"can't even kiss my homie in public" said with the genuine grief of a man whose basic civil rights have been violated. stay strong
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u/AwaaaraSoul 21 23h ago
All I have to say is Jo karna hai kro, bs regret mt kro
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u/ppfry 23h ago
Damn bhai har jageh dikh jaate ho
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u/sizzicandy 23h ago
Making out, grabbing each other and moaning is hella inappropriate in public. But kisses, hugging, holding hands shouldn’t be villanised the way it is.
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u/SodaAshy 20 22h ago
Yaha buddho ko hath pakadne se problem ho jati h na lekin
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u/sizzicandy 22h ago
Iss desh main har unconventional cheez se dikkat hai. After coming back to india, i noticed people staring at me for no reason, then it clicked ki koi reason nahi lagta😭
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u/anti-general Buffing progress, nerfing ego 21h ago
I was in delhi a few months ago, me and my friend went to lodhi garden. On a bench in the center, surrounded by some trees, a couple was making out 🤣... And guess what, everyone else was watching them and laughing at them... Bro it was so embarrassing lol, yet no one said anything to them 😂
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u/whyharsh90 14h ago
i think lodhi garden is like a go-to place for makeout or something coz last time main gya tha ek saal pehle tab bhi 1 couple jo bench hoti hai garden me uspe makeout kar rha and mere dost bhi ek baar gya tha and usne bhi aise hi kuch dekha tha
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u/crazysspro 22h ago
bro who tf makes out in public and moan? lol
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u/sizzicandy 21h ago
Manipal campus aao kabhi😭
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u/Yoichiews 17h ago
Mera dost ye saal manipal join krra hai
Boht single hai,uska hojayega kya kuch?
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u/New-Time-8206 22 23h ago
Don't even get me started... I am so tired of bajrang dal... Specially because I am from haridwar...
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u/RevolutionarySalt942 19h ago
I might get downvoted but bajrang dal might be the most shittiest thing i have ever seen.
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u/exhauszed 14h ago
From the states it reminds me of our Christian Nationalist "Incels." They have shit personality and no one wants to spend time with them, so instead they make it their goal to immiserate anyone they see displaying happiness or interpersonal care.
It does break my heart, empathetic as I am, that I cannot just explain to these young people that meanness earns meanness, and kindness earns kindness, and no amount of cruel enjoyment of others' suffering will ever get you as high as you can get from random acts of kindness, and the latter is far, far easier to accomplish, quite frequently if one chooses.
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u/socomocola 21h ago edited 17h ago
It's funny how showing affection sometimes feels like such a taboo, even though everyone wants
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u/Wooden_Seaweed8973 18h ago
Spitting ghutja is fine Peeing on road is fine But not two people showing love to each other Fed up of tis country🙏🙏
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u/enough_salty 23h ago
I agree bhai... apna kaam karo na....and they say ki genz are destroying the culture...bruh irony
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u/cutieondutiee kaun duniya? kaun 4 log? 23h ago
PDA is cringe for us who look at them and on the other hand it's cute for them.
It's perspective 🤷🏻♂️
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u/hasbullamagomed0v I'm a very good bad boy 23h ago
Kohli Saab PDA ki baat aap toh na kre janab 😔😔
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u/Aarya_Man 22h ago
M20 here
Me and my girlfriend (21) have basically decided to ignore society and whenever we wanna show affection be it a hug or a kiss in public we just do it without giving a single f
Whenever anyone tries to approach us either she gets into a fighting spirit or I show my legal prowess (I’m a law student) and state that it’s a basic fundamental right
The main modus operandi y’all can use is claiming that it’s a fundamental right to show affection (which it is) and there’s nothing in the constitution which dictates that basic forms of affection are obscene
When a mother or father hug or kiss their child in public, does anyone question?
No they do not
The same task being performed by two consenting adults is questioned which just means people don’t have b*ches so they get into some moral high ground
Be confident people no one can dictate how you and your partner live life y’all are consenting adults live like consenting adults
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u/crazylalba 21h ago
Look, I get the confidence and it’s great that you two are all in on each other, but as a law student, you need to step back and look at how the system actually functions on the ground before that legal prowess backfires on you. Reciting constitutional rights sounds great in theory, but the reality is that Section 294 of the IPC or Section 296 of the BNS now specifically criminalizes any obscene act in public that causes annoyance to others. The trap here is that the law deliberately leaves obscenity and annoyance subjective. You don’t get to define what’s acceptable; the public and the police do. If an onlooker or a moral policing group claims your public kissing annoyed them, the cops legally have the leverage to haul you in, regardless of how unfair or outdated you think it is. Your comparison to a parent hugging a child also doesn't hold up legally because courts rely on a community standards test, which views romantic intimacy and parental affection through entirely different lenses. Is society hypocritical about it? Absolutely. But acting like a simple hug and a romantic kiss are viewed the same way by the law is just wishful thinking. More importantly, getting into a fighting spirit or trying to outsmart a cop with legal jargon on the street is a quick way to turn a minor situation into an arrest for public nuisance or obstructing a public servant. A constable on the beat isn't going to debate Article 19 or 21 with you; they will just take you to the station. Even if you are technically right and a higher court eventually dismisses the case weeks later because a basic display of affection shouldn't be deemed obscene, the process itself becomes the punishment. You still end up dealing with a police station, paying lawyers, and handling the massive headache that comes with it just to prove a point. Real legal prowess isn't about triggering a fight you have to win in court , it's about having the street smarts to de-escalate, avoid the hassle, and protect your peace. Keep loving your girlfriend and living your life, but lose the reckless bravado before your ego turns a quick moment of affection into a legal nightmare.
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u/Aarya_Man 21h ago edited 21h ago
My friend
in a comment just a minute ago I have stated a case law which very well displays the distinction between what counts as innocent and obscene, the Supreme Court itself has stated that merely hugging and kissing in public does not count as obscene
In fact, In Richard Gere v. State of Rajasthan (2008), the Supreme Court effectively rejected the idea that a brief public kiss by itself amounts to obscenity. A hug, holding hands, or a brief kiss between consenting adults does not automatically become an obscene act merely because someone is annoyed by it.
If the highest echelon of the judiciary itself is stating this then the ground moral rules become highly trivial, illogical and in fact illegal don’t they?
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u/Sudhars2 21h ago
it remains fine until its innocent display of affection. the problem arises here - "obscene act in a public place" that causes "annoyance to others".
We all know for a fact we are unfortunately not civilised enough to realise what is not appropriate.
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u/Aarya_Man 21h ago
I partially agree with you here however there exists a nuance, that being that that’s precisely the distinction Indian courts have repeatedly emphasized.
In s khushboo vs kanniammal, the Supreme Court very respectably stated that displays of affection cannot be treated as criminal merely because they offend certain sections of society. A hug, holding hands, or a brief kiss between consenting adults does not automatically become an obscene act merely because someone finds it uncomfortable or disapproves of it. The legal threshold for obscenity is much higher than personal annoyance or moral disagreement.
The entire core issue is that even innocent displays of affection trigger the masses here and they start morally policing
No couple wishes to display sexuality in public however where are people drawing the line?
Merely hugging someone or kissing someone is considered obscene? I personally find that purely illogical
And as I stated, even the courts themselves have observed that hugging or kissing in public does not count as obscenity
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u/Emperor2408 16h ago
Though your comment makes sense, that relation is illogical.
A mother/father kissing their children is very different from 2 consenting adults kissing each other. I mean, i wouldn't be fine watching my partner kiss some other person.
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u/imphenominal21 16h ago
Bro hasnt faced some specific type of people yet.....those kinds dont give a rats ass about your rights and wrongs
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u/AkaiShi777 21h ago edited 20h ago
it will stop when all the stupid oldies perish
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u/Slight-Ear-7085 15h ago
if you want to kiss and have sex outside, do it...why do you want the whole indian society to follow you or want validation for doing it...
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u/Final-Lab8384 bekar hai bhaiya, mai to tut gaya 😓 23h ago
People who have a problem with these things don't use reddit
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u/HiddenGh05t Tony Stark was able to build this in a cave, With a box of scrap 15h ago
Just wait until that generation dies, you can't change their mindset
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u/Turbulent-Walk-8973 22h ago
You didn't need to use an AI generated image for making your point
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u/Dry-Ad3046 23h ago
Somehow the people who judge others for showing public affection themselves have 5+ kids.
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u/BearApprehensive580 23h ago
Fs but india is always gonna be like that
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u/mloxxfox 23h ago
we have come sooo damn far bruh ...just compare 80's/90's india and todays india ...people have become open minded atleast in many tier 1 city
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u/Chanakyaverse 22h ago edited 13h ago
Kissing in public creates a kind of stress in parents' mind who roam with their small children that their child will now search for kiss on xhamster instead of what he searches /s
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u/mynotsoprecious 15h ago
So irresponsible parents letting their child have unrestricted internet and corn access? How is this about kissing again?
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u/Repulsive-Price3782 20 13h ago
You are not entirely right.
First I'm happy that you got bf/gf but also jealous so don't try to do that infront of me.
Second for your kissing stuff I may suffer. Suppose you're going out with your family and then suddenly the couple opposite of you starts kissing aggressively. It would affect negetively and your parents might think you also do this stuff when you go outside and they will be strict about your going out with friends.
Third bad influence on children.
Fourth doing those stuffs in public property is like attending an important call in the middle of the road and expecting everyone to stop making sound for you.
Not every hug is indecent but all the indecent stuffs start from hugs and kisses. So if you want to do those stuffs then don't do it infront of others.
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u/Lanky_Sense3618 2h ago
Indian movies with its item songs, objectification of women, romanticized stalking and normalisation of sexual assault between men AND women has done enough to influence the children already. They openly watch these movies in the comfort of their homes but God forbid kids glance at a couple kissing in public because clearly the makeout sections in Indian movie is very sanskari. Among the people who judge two consenting adults for showing affection in public, it is typically the uncles and aunties staring at them, not the other way around. You can ignore a beggar right up in your face asking for money like a blind man, but suddenly people become morality police the moment they see romantic affection between adults they are bitterly lacking in their own lives. It is easier for people to digest these things when one of the parties never consented and couldn't say no it seems.
Do you know what I do when I see people performing PDA near my 10 year old sister? I just move on. Literally. When my sister asked me questions about it, I was honest. It is things people do in romantic relationships at an appropriate age. It is part of sex ed and keeping her in the dark or scaring her as if it's a taboo thing won't stop her from doing these things as a teenager. It will just mean she will be unaware of the consequences and social stigma. I'd rather have her do these things with full knowledge and awareness, rather than be confused and afraid when it occurs.
It's literally that easy you guys. Just don't bother people minding their own business. You aren't a hero here, you are just trying to look morally superior.
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u/CaptainFatBat 30+ 13h ago
Extend this to its extremes, why two people having sex in the public is an issue ?
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u/neetsunsetdiaries 22h ago
ughh 😭 why are u all reading this do u even have partners 👽
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u/blind_sup 22h ago
Me and my girlfriend do not like PDA at all, everytime we meet, we do nothing more than a side hug.. and those wanted to do it, will do it...india doesn't need any lesson
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u/Friendly-Jacket914 25 21h ago
On a serious note, look at how unmannered people are in India, you’re not supposed to be peeing or spitting in public either but people still do it, not that they’re commensurate. Like 90% of people outside have no control, if they unban pda, you’ll have beggars and all bloody fucking in broad open daylight without anyone being able to reprimand them. As much as I would like to kiss my girlfriend in public or give her small pecks when we’re together away from home, I am really very glad that pda is banned.
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u/Lifeisshitman_ 21h ago
This needs to be posted on WhatsApp and Facebook. Boomers ain’t on Reddit.
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u/InvestmentOrnery8310 21h ago
Reminds me of the quote in india u can piss in public but can't kiss in public
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u/ketanaaa 20 21h ago
"India is a country where you can piss in public but you can't kiss in public" - Shashi Tharoor
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u/Melodic_Show_5759 21h ago
Shi kah yrrr vo bi to apne time me culture follow krte the unhe bi 15s ka culture follow Krna chaiye fr to
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u/Hefty_Arachnid7948 20h ago
Thank god i dont have these problems💀
(Anyways no hate to OP,honestly idc and i dont think a healthy affectionate PDA is bad..,as long it isnt harming others or me or isnt too inappropriate..its completely fine..but yeah we need to be more open minded)
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20h ago
its not just abt India or Indian society. Majority of old civilizations have this kind of culture. Aint saying its a good culture, but, If you look at Indonesian culture, orthodox Russian culture (bruh they dont even talk much in public), japanese culture, they see public affection or PDA as taboo. Only the western ppl have accepted this , the debate starts at the point whether PDA is good or bad to society.
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u/Affectionate_Work_72 19h ago
In India, if you aint married then you will almost every time be interrupted/judged/stared.
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u/Briefly_Unfilter 19h ago
Indian society needs a lot of changes, but it's going to take forever to make those changes. It's not illegal to kiss in public if it's consensual but a lot of people don't care about the law or rules and instead impose their own moral values and beliefs upon others. Live and let live.
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u/Common-man-disguised 19h ago
😂huh....IMO Public affection can wait. People stare just because there's just a boy and a girl exist in public places. I freaking hate those stares.... Me and my girlfriend face these even at shopping malls.
Long distance relationship is already a headache and for the few precious hours we spend in each month, We feel like being watched all the time. Stupids
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u/FLAMEZING jaha dikh jau 100 rupay paytm kar dena 19h ago
Irony is inn buddho ki 10 10 aulaade hoti hai !!!!
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u/Fast_Day_8123 21 18h ago
like Shashi Tharoor said,
"its allowed to piss in public but not kiss" (in sense of India)
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u/Alternative_Past_106 18h ago
just ignore them even if they are talking at your face dont look or respond to them. ignore them and kive your life buddy.
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u/Samarium_15 18h ago
It's against our culture 🤡🤡 Same culture where grown up men married teenage girls just over hundred years ago ( Manusmriti 9.94), it has taken lot of constitutional danda to make the society more free and liberal but some political parties project Indian culture as so sacrosanct and that everything was glorious in the past BS.
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u/Beginning-Wafer-3951 18h ago
Exactly! I was just talking to my mom about this yesterday. We both agree that PDA is not wrong. We also do think that choosing the right partner is more important than openly expressing feelings in public. Anyway, PDA is something positive between two people. They are not hurting each other. Just mind your freaking business and let them love each other.
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u/Character_Trifle_801 18h ago
Indians are the most hypocritical society in the world at home every one is a saint once outside the house then even uncle will start staring like bionoculus at home he he is a moral police , untill our moral values at home are not similar with moral values outside the house , nothing will change
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u/maiden_man 18h ago
All is well untill a 5 or 6 th standard kid imitates what he sees in the public
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u/MrDarkk1ng 18h ago
Wo true pissing in public is alright but God forbid if u try to kiss in public.
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u/Normal_Actuary8805 18h ago
Log sahi kaam kar rahe hai, ye sab cheezon se samaaj mein bura asar padta hai.
Aur isko mein support karta hoon.
Kyuki mein single hoon 🥲.
“Corruption is not bad. Corruption is only bad if I'm not involved. But if I'm part of that corruption, I'll defend it.”🫶🏼
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u/Sweet_Ad2684 -19 18h ago
It's a two lane street, Some people do not have the common sense of not making out in a public place. affection is fine, but being overly intimate in a public space means you either have a exhibitionist kink, or you think you are allowed to do whatever the fk you want wherever you want.
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u/kanye_taylorsversion 18h ago
if you wanna grope, catcall or even rape someone on streets that's okay but a consensual hug or kiss is where they draw the line maybe ask your boyfriend to kiss in a way that it seems forceful and people will turn their heads away kyuki 'dusre k pachde me khud kyu padna'
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u/rawchawal 18h ago
Indians make all these gooner bait over the top romance movies but hates that shit when it happens irl.
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u/rahem027 18h ago
Every society has a culture of their own. There are places where if you smile to stranger, people will think you are a lunatic. There are places where if you dont smile to strangers, people will think you are a lunatic.
When in Rome, do as Romans do.
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u/kapsharah9040 18h ago
The problem is where do we draw a line to PDA when teenagers with raging hormones are considered. You should visit parks sometime.
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u/girlwithafootnote 17h ago
like a wise person said in india you can piss in public but not kiss in public
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u/Ecstatic_Hospital_47 17h ago
If u act normal or lovey dovey ,people will still have a problem regardless. Being an introvert , even I used to feel judged by other people around if I was involved in some pda,just a normal hug would make me nervous fearing what other people would think. But honestly,i don't give a damn now about others opinion or judgement. If a hug or small kiss makes your and your partner happy,then just go for it. It is these little gestures of love that make our day and you should not let anyone decide otherwise. Also as far as ik ,decent acts of pda are not illegal too in india ,just don't go too overboard might get you in trouble unnecessarily.
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u/Nikhilc890 17h ago
Yes I'm totally agree with this, parents property should be their only and their children cannot force to parents to assign property to them, just like America
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u/SHINESHORYA 17h ago
Respectfully, you'll understand this once you get a child with that same partner
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u/Various_Data3159 22 17h ago
I remember when I was around 20 my then-boyfriend and I shared a hug and had the police called upon us minutes later. The mf threatened to call our parents and ended up bribing us to let it go. Granted it was night time, but it was an innocent hug and nothing inappropriate. It’s a joke I tell people today but still so traumatised.
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u/RabbitCity6090 30+ 17h ago
Where you live? My guess is a tier 2/3 city. In tier 1 cities no one gives a fuck.
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u/Emperor2408 16h ago
A random hug or a peck looks fine (I know some people have problem with that too), but a lot of couples often go out of their way and it really gets very weird and uncomfortable.
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u/Ok_Art_2469 16h ago
Buddhon ki zindagi jhand hai to unko itne pyaar se jalan ho jaati hai. Maar peet karna hai public mai? Bindass karo
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u/Equivalent-Service43 16h ago
Apparantly the only solution is let the insert gen parish away. And we don't repeat their mistakes. Give the coming generations freedom and better society.
Cuz lets face it. These uncles and older ladies r old now. Their mindset is not getting changed anyday for better. Let em parish and new gen come and we start a new society with new rules thats it.
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u/cosmostella 16h ago
Throw them back to ancient India. The vedic culture uncle-aunties keep talking about was very expressive and accepting, unlike the current mindset of Indian society. Choosing your own partner, sharing love-laughter-joys, gifting, being affectionate, respecting each other. All of these were acceptable, and rather encouraged.
Their generation certainly lacks these aspects.
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u/Oliver1999_Top 16h ago
Bro I would suggest to leave india. This country needs us but this country acts like it doesn't need us.
I hate this shit.
Indians wouldn't change. So it's better to go aboard. I just can't crack how to...
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u/RecklessCoder 16h ago
“India is a country where you can piss in public but you can’t kiss in public”
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u/sassybund69 22 16h ago
Because hamari sabhayta ke khilaaf ha wo baat alag unhe Zindagi mauka nhi mila karne ka
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u/Special-Comedian3699 16h ago
me and my bf were hugging each other we werent even kissing each other's lips just hugging each other and looking at each other we were having an intense romantic moment when an uncle with erectile dysfunction came to moral police us. like bro we were in a corner we arent atleast kissing each other on roads unlike u, pissing in public showing ur small penis
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u/curly_messy_slut ❤️ 16h ago
Yk what's appropriate and inappropriate. So a hug or a random kiss in public is not a big deal.
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u/sonpakhru 16h ago
I was talking with my gf in like a street some uncle came in scooter telling "police ko bulau kya" "park hai kya"
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u/Fit-Hunt-1979 25 16h ago
But is it just me here or someone else is also feels that, it is inappropriate 🙄🙄, I mean if you are in a public place which is surrounded by all age of people like kids, and elders too. Then the appropriate thing should be is to avoid these kissing in public na. I mean if you wanna have physical intimacy, then you can hug each other, grab hands and all, they all are physical intimacy, but I don't understand why you wanna have kiss in public. Please don't normalise everything without thinking. Western culture is not that good, what you think.
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u/daxtonxwavier 15h ago
for a country where the uncles have been treating the aunties like a fucking baby popping machine sex and pda being this of a taboo is funny asf
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u/fuckfighter_refined 15h ago
This is the last generation, iske baad next generation ko koi tokne wala nahi hoga
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u/luteramangalsingh 15h ago
Not at all. We are good like this. Some things need to be private. Hugging is okay but full on making out is ridiculous
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u/aks_red184 15h ago
How can people make couples uncomfortable instead I get uncomfortable seeing them, I get paranoid that I might accidentally look their way, and if some how they saw me seeing them, they’ll think of me staring 😭 I get your point but it's just a circular mess
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