Lifestyle - Category Archive

Feb 08

Monday

Pornography in the land of Kama Sutra

“I can’t define pornography, but I know it when I see it.” , a judge in USA
“The government can place bans on websites that exclusively circulate pornography” Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan

Kama Sutra, an ancient text is a study and compilation of various aspects in human sexual performance. Kajuraho temple erected about 1000 years back displays physical postures of sexual acts in sculptures. Since both Kamasutra and Kajuraho belong to Indian tradition, a romantic opinion about Indian sex life is created in the minds of foreigners. The fact is that Indian society has evolved into a conservative and closed society in the issue of public expression about sex.

Kajuraho sculptures

The advent of internet has changed each and every aspect of life including sex life. Healthy discussions in magazines and visual media about sex education, reasonable practices of sharing the feelings among close relations and friends, counseling to teen age problems etc are welcome changes.

But what was hidden in private life is now exposed unrestricted for making money through pornography. It will no longer be received with cultural shock anymore in India if the present trend goes unchallenged. As the expansion of internet grows, the effects of such access to the world wide collection of information has far more benefited or affected the individual than the society for a reason that the conscience of the present individuals make a collective conscience of the future society. It is only a matter of time for those who are addicted to pornography now to grow in to future criminals of escalated crimes of sexual offences.

The sexual intercourse is primarily meant for reproduction a natural phenomenon. But the intention and purpose of pornography business is vulgar, obscene, corruptive and immoral. Pornography pollutes the life.

KG Balakrishnan, Chief Justice of India

One of the subjects which is not given due attention in India is pornography in internet. The recent opinion expressed by none other than the Chief Justice of India on this topic has evoked good reaction from the media. While covering a larger issue of Cyber law enforcement Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan has said

“The government can place bans on websites that exclusively circulate pornography and hate speeches. However, it would not be right to place a blanket ban on all categories of websites. It is also important to distinguish between intermediaries such as Network Service Providers, website operators and individual users for the purpose of placing liability for wrongful acts,” the Chief Justice said.

“There have been numerous reports of internet users receiving unsolicited e-mails which often contains obscene language and amounts to harassment. Those who post personal information about themselves on job and marriage websites or social networking websites are often at the receiving end of ‘cyber-stalking’. Women and minors who post their contact details become especially vulnerable since lumpen elements such as sex-offenders can use this information to target potential victims.”

This specific remark of the Chief Justice of India shows that the issue of pornography has now caught the attention of the responsible authorities in a conflicting scenario of individual virtue versus liberal laws governing the society, a situation which developed in the western world a decade in advance.

The ground situation in India is worsening day by day with more parents and social activists coming up with vocal concerns on the evil effect of violent pornography and its easy access to youngsters. . The internet kiosks run in metro and municipal areas are the tapping point for the violent pornography for students, bachelors and even married people apart from the bed rooms of those who can afford for unlimited internet connection.

Defining sexually explicit material in pornography is subjective to specific culture. Acceptance and practice of pornography in USA is altogether different and cannot be a guiding factor in permitting the same in India. Exposure of human body in USA is not considered so uncivilized as in India. It is very basic and simple to say that pornography is harmful to the whole mankind let alone Indians. Comparison with USA in allowing or restricting or banning pornography websites has to be made only on academic interest. India has to think on its own, based on the best evolved values for individuals and society and must give due importance to the fact that no one has any right to harm others or himself.

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