In Search of Comfort Zone 1 by Nilanjan Das

Public display of affection (PDA) is a political yet heavily contested idea in a society like India. Most Indian cities do not have places for lovers or couples. Those who do not have a place to go often use public parks, cafeterias, or even public transport to spend some intimate moments. PDA in India is not just a performative act to challenge the taboo and stricture of a conservative society; it also comes from the basic desire and unavailability of a place to go. Indian society at large and public spaces, in particular, are not friendly and rather hostile to the idea of men, women, and people of different sexualities expressing the intimacy of their relationships publicly. Couples and lovers have become victims of moral policing by locals and law enforcement agents. Some authorities have even placed surveillance systems, defensive devices, or social disciplinary designs and public notice to dissuade couples or lovers from getting physically intimate in public settings.