Many Delhi metro videos have gone viral this year, namely the girl for her ‘not-so-decent’ outfit (can you recall?), the TikTok dance video, and others. However, the recent video is a little different as it shows a lady shaming a couple for a public display of affection (PDA).
The ‘ritual’ of moral policing is nothing new in Indian society, neither is the PDA of couples but it has sparked a new debate on social media for how much PDA should be acceptable and if there’s a need to draw a line.
In a recent video that’s floating on social media, a lady seems to be scolding a couple for holding hands and pinching cheeks in the Delhi metro which she finds awkward. “Ek ghanta ho gaya dekhte-dekhte, kabhi uske baal pakad rahi hai, kabhi aise kar rahi hai…”, she says as the crowd divides by views. She also insists that such acts should be carried out outside and not in the metro.
Kalesh b/w a Aunty and a Couple inside Delhi metro over couple were hugging each other inside metro pic.twitter.com/QUkGMtoq4T
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) September 6, 2023
Ironically, while people used to be scolded and asked to do PDA at home in the past years, now “bahar jakar karo” is the new guideline, at least as per the lady. What she actually meant is such activities should not happen in a closed space on Delhi metro trains.
While there are many who find the PDA apprehensive, there’s also a good number of passengers who question the moral policing by the lady. The social media seems to be divided over this video. Viewers have found it objectionable and have labeled the metro trains as worse than public parks, however, some are expecting the lady to “mind her business”.
Several videos of couples romancing in the metro trains have surfaced on the internet previously, this is the latest when an elderly lady raises concerns and finds it disturbing.