You Kissed, Now Tell: Kerala Teacher Asked to Explain Kiss of Love

Mangalore Today News Network

Kozhikode, Jan 22, 2015:   Among the 100 people gathered in Kozhikide in a show of chutzpah for the "Kiss of Love" protest, was Deedi Damodaran, a college professor.  Couples - and singles - were meant to kiss each other to stand up to moral policing.  So when the moment arrived, Ms Damodaran, 46, and her husband obliged.

 

Now, Ms Damodaran has been asked to explain her action by her employer, the College of Applied Sciences, which alleges she has proven a poor role model for students.
 
"It’s not that the protest is a pretext by which I could kiss my partner with whom I have been married for 24 years!  It was just a gesture. The students live in a very different environment these days.  I teach them the Indian constitution... what do you expect from me?" Ms Damodaran told NDTV. She has taught at the same college for 20 years.

The Kiss of Love protest was broken up within minutes by the police, alleging that it violated laws of publicly acceptable or decent behaviour.

But other cities took up the cause, with ’Kiss of Love’ spin-offs in Delhi and Kolkata.
 
Ms Damodaran’s college says that a letter from a parent has impelled the inquiry.
 
"I received a letter from a parent which said that kissing like this will be a bad influence on young teenage students. I forwarded the letter to the Principal and have asked for a detailed report. That’s all," said Dr S Sheela, a state government official who in on the governing body of the college.

Ms Damodaran’s students say that she did not pressure them to join her at the protest, or mouth off.

"Our teacher or her action did not have any influence on us, she never forced us in any manner. In fact, as a teacher we respect the vision she has for students," said Semina, an undergraduate student. 

 

Courtesy: NDTV