It’s not that I am a rightist. It’s not that I am a diehard
fan of Narendra Modi. It’s not that I am indulging in flattery. It’s just one
question that troubles me – “Is porn educating, entertaining or for that matter
even titillating?” If the answer is no then why so much hullabaloo about the
Government blocking some 800 odd porn sites? Some liberals have argued that a
Government which attempts to regulate the media are not too far from
restricting it. But then does that mean that a Government which shows no signs
of regulating will essentially not restrict and will not bend towards anarchy? If
we are suggesting so then it implies that we haven’t learnt our lessons well
and have forgotten a dark chapter in the history of our democracy called ‘Emergency’.
Someone defined fear as False Expectations Appearing Real. In this context it
is very true. There’s an old saying supply creates demand. And then porn is a
general term that is used to describe literature or films that that have adult
content and a closer look will reveal that the subject incorporates disgusting
things like animal-porn, granny-porn, child porn, albino porn, amputee porn and
what not that can serve to titillate or entertain only a sick or vicious mind.
Does it make any sense at all when intellectual fight it out on news channels
or social networking sites for some the right to watch porn as an individual
right when there are scores of issues from right to education to farmer
suicides? Does it not pave way for exploitation of the weaker sections of
society like women, children, and disabled, old and more importantly the poor?
Are these sections not solely dependent on the Government for their protection
from such exploitations? I agree that there’s a limit to which the step will
serve the purpose with which it is initiated if not a total wastage but then an
intellectual fighting it out as if it was a matter of life and death to shield
the porn sites from being blocked is simply disgusting.
In the west there’s an established porn industry whose
contents are certified by a regulating body. There’s hall of fame and an Oscar
equivalent life time achievement award for porn artiste’s nay porn stars. Kay
Parker, Steven Martins, Peter North are few of the porn stars who starred in
porn films in the Golden Era of porn and walked away with life achievement statuettes.
But then here in India the porn industry isn’t at all organized. Most of the
porn is sub standard. Most of the porn clips are sneaks and peeks. Most clips
are either a result of direct or indirect exploitation and may even involve
blackmail, kidnap and rape. And even if it’s a porn film do we have a
regulatory body and regulations to regulate the industry? And then what about
the STD risk that the porn artiste is being subjected to. Let us remember that
Steven Martin succumbed to AIDS at an age of 45 and it was his demise that
goaded the porn industry to review its ways of functioning and introduce ways
that would put the porn stars at minimum risk of contracting STD’s. But one
would argue why block porn sites when the need was to regulate the production
process of the product that was being displayed? But my argument is why display a product when
the regulatory norms and bodies are not in place? Are we sure that no one is
being exploited to provide for our urges to view porn in secrecy? But then most
of the porn is a western product where all these issues are taken care of. Fine
but then are we comfortable with things like animal porn, amputee porn, granny
porn, albino porn, child porn or for that matter even teacher porn? Let’s not
forget that seventies and eighties are known as the golden age of porn and it
soon faded away! Why? For two just one reason – Incest! When incest crept in
porn and it seemed to be virtually unstoppable to the extent it went and
eventually it spelled dooms day for porn which never returned in that big way
ever. So if the western society could be so uncomfortable with porn would it be
discreet to be liberal with porn sites here in India where even Kamasutra lays
guidelines regarding do’s and don’t’s in sex. Would it be discreet to give a
porn sites like teacher porn an easy access to our minds whom we train to
respect teachers and hold them in highest regard? Let’s not forget porn stars
of yester years like Francois Papillion and Sasha Papillion have chosen to live
a life of recluse with a changed identity. In short porn industry may mint
money but seldom gets you earns you respect or for that matter even
acceptability. Porn sites may have freedom to make rounds of the Indian markets
but certainly do not have the right to corrode our values. And if care is being
taken about that I don’t see anything dictatorial or anarchical about it. If tomorrow
all Indians vote to set free a notorious terrorist without trial would it be fair?
Then how is it fair to give porn sites a free hand because it’s a popular
opinion? And what about adolescents who would unknowingly indulge in anal /unnatural
sex ignorant of the fact that unnatural sex is crime in India? With whom does
the onus for misguidance lie with? ‘Cigarette smoking/Tobacco chewing causes
cancer’ notice appears every time an artiste smokes on screen to warn or the
viewers about the ill effects of the habit but the same precautions are not
taken in case of porn. Have we seen an ‘anal sex is a crime in India as per
section 377 of IPC?’ True that porn is predominantly watched by adults, true
that there are provisions for child locks but then for a society that is struggling
with imparting sex education, tackling pornography is a bit too much to
swallow!...at least as for now!!
- Bhushan Kumarsen Sarmalkar, Mumbai, 07 August 2015.
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