The interference of moral police in subjects of gender relations has dominated the whole spectrum of public life--social, political, moral, law-enforcement, religion, literature and entertainment industry. Different levels of terrorist activities and psychological trauma and family problems result from misconceptions and ignorance about the root cause - the great difference in body chemistry and functions of two genders from biological angle. Of course, sexual inclination, impulse, control etc are subjects of religious, moral, social, political codes and teachings. But mainly they are man-made codes and behaviour patterns. Essentially and basically, it is a scientific subject which needs scientific analysis. Medical fraternity and biological scientists know very well that scientific discipline studying the whole issue endocrinology - study of hormones. A proper study of male hormone testosterone and female hormone estrogen will throw a flood of light on this social problem. It is strange that medical fraternity does not valiantly come forward to fulfil their social responsibility of enlightening public about scientific aspects of this subject. In western countries ‘peck the cheeks’ is socially accepted as a social custom and good manners. When a man and his wife meet together the man’s male friend, western social custom demands that the male friend kiss the cheeks of his friend’s wife. If not, he is supposed to be ill-mannered. No moral police, however puritan they may be, will interfere with the social custom. In the Art of Communication, ‘peck the cheeks’ is regarded as Tactile Communication to express goodwill, regard, warmth of feeling and civility in public life through sense of touch just as shaking hands, or patting shoulders.For instance an anchor in a channel Reality show is regarded by TV viewership as most popular person in her profession because she has mastered all different communication skills with charm and grace to radiate goodwill and happiness among participants in studio and viewers in their drawing rooms. If orthodoxy can be generally abandoned in all walks of life in modern world, it can be abandoned in gender relations without prejudice to security, social-well being and harmony. In a civilized society, moral police should never be allowed to interfere with personal morality and gender relations. All religions teach that each person is accountable to God at personal level, not collective level. God is the ultimate arbiter of justice and man should not play God because God will finally judge all including moral police on the basis of their sins of omission and commission. Moral policing reminds of an interesting case involving two IAS - IPS officers which went up to Supreme Court. At a high level party of very senior administrators, a senior IPS officer, in a tipzy mood, spanked a senior lady IAS officer, while socialising. The indignant lady officer fought a legal battle up to the apex court which awarded a minor penalty to the IPS officer. But more enlightening and edifying was a column written by columnist Talween Singh in the ‘Express’ many years ago commenting on the case. With incisive humour, she wrote, “In a country where about 40 crore people go to sleep without two square meals a day, a lady’s slapped bottom is a more important concern for apex court.” Gender relation is a natural relation like any other relation and it can take different twists and turns like any other relation. People have to take it in the stride.(The writer is retired Professor of Christian College, Chengannur)
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