The Sinister Heart of Prem Prasang: How the label of love affair smooths over gendered violence

In the second part of our Valentine Month special, we delve into the phenomenon of ‘prem-prasang’ or love-affair, a label that sweeps sinister things under the carpet in U.P. “If the phrase ‘prem prasang’ (love-affair) is being thrown around in public you know something has gone wrong. Because if all is well, then either there is nothing to discuss, or it stays private. It’s truly a personal matter,” Kavita, KL’s Editor in Chief says. And when the words prem prasang are suddenly thrust into the harsh glare of daylight or media cameras, you know that something has gone terribly wrong.  Prem prasangs happen outside the bounds of socially sanctioned, parentally approved, big dhoom dhaam se shaadi relationships. Usually it is