Dance bars, a bane

The Supreme Court has paved the way for dance bars to reopen in Maharashtra after 14 years saying there can be ‘regulations’ but not ‘total prohibition’ and frowning upon the state government ‘moralistic’ overtones and attempt at social control. Dance bars are the by-product of the human’s quest for entertainment and whether they are immoral or moral in the eyes of society are decided by the apex court.

Now, the ruling came diluting the Maharashtra government’s curbs on the dance bars. But, the question whether dance bars are necessary for our society or not, still cocks a snook at us making us helpless to find a definite answer. Variety is the spice of life. Even if there is disagreement with certain practice which has been in currency in society for the benefit of a few elites, the majority cannot stop it as it infringes on the freedom of an individual.

On the other hand, in a sense, coming back of the dance bar culture is nothing but a bane on society and it has no a positive bearing on the people, which eventually leads to societal moral decline. Based upon this, what we need at this crucial hour of reopening of dance bars, an awareness drive for the people’s enlightenment on the ill-effects of the dance bars culture in the long run.

- T K Nandanan, Kochi