Why is porn such a big deal in India?
We talk to sex and behavioural sciences experts to understand what gets porn going in society
MOST YOUNG PEOPLE GET INTRODUCED TO PORNOGRAPHY BY ACCIDENT OR THROUGH A FRIEND. AS PER THE RESULTS OF AN ONLINE SURVEY I DID, I FOUND OUT THAT PEOPLE WERE 12-13 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY SAW PORNOGRAPHY. A BAN ON PORN WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WE NEED TO INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION ACROSS INDIA IN A MANDATORY WAY.
— KARISHMA SWARUP, Sexuality Educator and creator of @talkyounevergot on Instagram
I WATCH IT. AND I WATCH IT WITH MY SPOUSE ALSO. I REMEMBER, THE REASON WHY I GOT INTERNET AT MY HOME, WITH THOSE SLOW DIAL IN MODEMS, AND SILLY SCRATCH CARDS TO PUNCH ACTIVATION KEYS AND ACTIVATE INTERNET ON ‘SATYAM ONLINE’ IN THOSE DAYS, WAS TO FIND OUT WHAT’S THIS BIG DEAL ABOUT PORN. MY DAD STILL DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THAT CHARGE FOR $29.99 WAS FOR HIS CARD.
— RAJ ARMANI, Co-Founder & COO, Besharam
In India, while viewing sexually explicit material in private spaces is not illegal, Section 67 of the Information Technology Act makes it illegal for anyone to publish or transmit “obscene material” in electronic form. However, no matter what, one thing is clear: there’s a huge demand for porn globally. In fact, a new report in Pornhub, an adult website, has revealed that 89% people in India porn via mobile devices in 2019, which is up 3% from the figure in 2017.
OLD AND YOUNG, WATCH IT
“Porn is a big deal everywhere in the world, but it gets more attention in India because of the clash in thinking of the two generations — ones over 40 and those under 40. The older generation sees porn as a violation of their moral values, attack of their holy culture and a disrespect and degradation of women. The younger generation sees it as a thrill, a sense of accomplishment, outlet to their rebellion and a gratification which is instant. While this disparity may continue for another generation, both sides of the audience still watch. One to condone it, and the other to rejoice it. Additionally, its human nature, you want to do more what you are told not to. So till our society doesn’t put a lid to this Nok-jhok, the rest of us will continue to do it more and more,” says Raj Armani, Co-Founder & COO, Besharam, India’s sexual wellness brand.
According to sex and behavioural sciences experts, sex is one of those abiding mysteries from which teenagers seek an answer. And while it’s much easier today to reach out for answers through the social media or the general web, often the answers come in the form of pornography. Dr Niveditha Manokaran, dermatologist, venereologist and clinician in sexual and reproductive health, reasons that things you don’t know about are always a big deal. “And there are several sides to pornography, which makes it secretive, stigmatising, exciting, misinformed and illegal,” adds Dr Niveditha. “Unlike sex in real life, pornography is a film directed, produced, choreographed and edited in which actors act out scenes. Pornography is not a simulation of real life events, just as a movie like Avengers isn’t and you cannot try to jump off buildings and shoot spider webs in real life.”