After several tiresome days of walking the busy streets of Kolkata, I visited the Victoria Memorial, which is surrounded by a few parks. Four months in India and I had not once witnessed a single public display of affection. But today was Valentine’s Day and what I found were lovers everywhere. Lovers kissing in the bushes, lovers under trees, umbrellas and scarves, all hiding to mask their identity. Fear of being recognized was obvious within this conservative culture, where upwards of 80% of marriages are still arranged and it is prohibited to date out of wedlock. Here it seemed there was as much energy spent on concealing as there was on the actual love stuff. Capturing these forbidden acts of love was not as easy a task as you’d think (considering the couples were rather preoccupied and often blinded by inanimate objects).
Dorel Frumusanu
