Sex is a taboo topic
in India and although ours is the land of Kamasutra and erotic temples of
Khajuraho, we still change channels on our television when so much as a
passionate hug is shared between a boy and a girl in a movie. Isn’t it an irony
then that our forefathers were so progressive and liberal while in the present
century of advanced technology and contemporary thoughts, sex is only talked in
hushed tones behind closed doors?
There is too much
emphasis given on sex, after all it’s just a natural act of coupling. But right
from childhood, the act of sex is correlated with righteousness. We are taught
to believe that anything related to sex, before one’s marriage, is considered
to be wrong. And if you are a girl in Indian society then you have to preserve
your virginity, like a precious jewel, until the time you get married to your
prince charming. Never mind if your prince charming is an ugly toad, whose
number of sexual experiences exceed the combined sum of his and your age. But a
bride who does not bleed on her first night? Oh no, she is a slut alright!
Source-
| http://talkingbrian.com/ |
I realize that I am
writing bluntly and candidly but enough of dodging and sidestepping on the
topic of sex. When a child grows into his/her adolescent years it is but
natural for him/her to be curious about the opposite sex and take an interest
in finding about what all the fuss is about sex. And when adults try to
suppress their curiosity and conceal the truth, their inquisitiveness only
increases. They then turn to other modes of information like friends with
half-baked knowledge or porn or internet. Instead why not tell them the truth,
I know it is not easy as it sounds and things can become awkward. But isn’t it
better that your kids get the information from you rather than from improper
and unreliable sources?
Too much of
importance is given to celibacy before marriage in Indian society. Our society frowns upon a girl who moves around with boys or a girl who
has a boyfriend before marriage. Pestering aunties with wagging tongues are quick to criticize
a girl who wears western clothes and comes home late in the night. But after
marriage the same girl is supposed to share her body with a stranger whom she
has barely known for a few months. Isn’t it absurd? All her life her parents
and society has drilled the thought in her that strangers are dangerous and now
she is supposed to sleep with a stranger? No wonder Indian women are confused
and depressed!
Source- http://www.burnabrain.com/ |
I find nothing wrong
with pre-marital sex as long as it involves two consenting adults and safe sex methods are practiced. After all, I
think, a boy or a girl above 18 years of age knows what physical relationship
is about. And if they don’t, then again this is why sex education is important
and the need of this generation. When your son or daughter reaches adolescence
it is impossible to restrict them from meeting people and naturally they are
attracted to members of opposite sex. But what you can do as responsible
parents is, empower them with knowledge and trust them to take a right
decision.
Things do turn into
mess and chaos when a man and a woman engage in a physical relationship and
then maybe their engagement breaks off or their relationship does not culminate
in a marriage. But really in this fickle age where nothing stays the same
forever, it is but foolish to have pre-marital sex if you are not fully
prepared and well aware of the consequences.
Source-http://time4thinkers.com/ |
Of course our society
is slowly progressing in thoughts and quietly accepting single parents or
children born out of wedlock. It’s quite common to see couples in live in
relationships in cities. But I guess a lot has to change in rural villages
where a new bride’s mother-in-law still inspects for blood on the white bed
linen used for her son’s first night after his nuptials.
When it comes to
pre-marital sex, there is no right or wrong. It is an individual’s decision. As
long as the people involved in casual sex are fully aware of what they are
getting into, I don’t see why a third person gets a say! What I do think is
wrong, is when a man who is regular customer in the red light areas and has
been treated multiple times for STDs expects his bride to be a virgin.
The debate on
pre-marital sex can be never ending and there is a thin line between what is
right and wrong but I completely believe that it’s an individual’s perspective. Prohibiting or forbidding someone from having sex will only lead to aggression
and defiance.
I do love reading
books centered on strong women who have gone against society’s diktat and in
fact I am currently reading the latest book from Preethi Shenoy where the
female character has a child out of wedlock. Another promising and interesting
book based on a mystical true love story is Poonaam Uppal’s “A Passionaate
Gospel of True Love : A Mystical True Love Story”. The story is based on a lead
character Moh Lal Rai, who embarks on a journey to find her ancient lover and
her true love and accidentally unlocks the, extinct, cryptic most guarded
secret 'Ancient Art of True Love'. Sounds baffling? Do read more about the
story here and let me know your opinion on pre-marital sex in the comments
section.
This post was written for "Yes or No to Pre-Marital Sex" contest hosted by Indiblogger.
Hey Prasanna,
ReplyDeletegreat article. straightforward with no hypocrisy. I do agree on your views. It's a man's world. A guy sleeps around he is given sobriquets like Casanova, Don Juan and what not, and he flaunts it with great pride, but if its a girl, she is called loose character and is looked down upon. These double standards exist in India and are still prevalent. I would love to attempt to write some thing like this. I mostly write about sports, travel, politics, entertainment etc. Do check my blog at
http://samusayshi.blogspot.com