Things That Bang

According to a recent survey urban Indians are quite happy with their sex lives as compared to other countries around the world. We desis apparently don’t shy away from telling our partners what we like, we pour over porn material together, love role playing and enjoy massaging each other to get into the mood.

Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of Indians surveyed are comfortable with telling their partners what they like in bed way above the global average of 58 per cent and the UK with just 49 per cent, says the Durex ‘Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey’.

The survey further points out that two-third of Indians (68 per cent) think their love lives are exciting, a sharp contrast with 38 per cent for English lovers and 36 per cent for famed lovers in France. Moreover, 63 per cent of Indians say they have enough variety, compared with 47 per cent in the UK and just 9 per cent in Japan.

Maybe it’s time that the myth that we are a sexually repressive society will finally be laid to rest. We may not openly discuss our antics in the bedroom but we do like romping around in the privacy of our rooms. Why else would we be producing like rabbits?

With the opening up of society, globalization and women becoming far more empowered, the equations in the bedroom have also changed. Women are more in tune with their sexuality, willing to be the ones to initiate the act and willing to learn more about how to please themselves and their partners.

Men on their end seem to have discovered the female magic button- the clitoris and many like their female counterparts are curious about how to be good lovers.

But certain patterns from the past continue to prevail:

Fidelity is still something that Indians are proud of, shows the survey which said that Indians have had fewer sexual partners than most other countries. Indian men have averaged six lovers and women have averaged two, while in the UK the figures are 16 and 10 respectively. Globally men, on average, have 13 partners and women have seven.

Marriage, fidelity and children are considered as requirements that Indian youth are expected to follow. Confirmed bachelors and spinsters are considered to be oddities in Indian society and pre-marital sex continues to be frowned upon and rarely are live in relationship accepted by most families and communities.

Another surprising fact was that we are willing to use sex toys and lubricants to make sex more pleasurable:

"Almost six in ten (57 per cent) Indians think it is acceptable for products aimed at improving sex lives to be available in mainstream stores. Currently just 9 per cent of Indians use vibrators compared to 21 per cent globally although 13 per cent of Indians are interested to have a try," the survey said.

The survey said Indians are using more of lubricants to make sex more enjoyable with 33 per cent of Indians using them more as a part of their sex lives which is similar to the global figure of 34 per cent.

Apart from imported Vibrators, Indian vibrators are also available though they are sold under the guise of being educational materials. While condoms and contraceptive pills are easily available yet for things like vibrators and lubricants one has to go hunting around the town which is surprising for urban centers.

We are not only one of the happiest people but also adaptable. Ads about HIV and AIDS are being telecast and ads for above the counter contraceptives have also been allowed by the government. Recent public service advertisements have encouraged the open discussion of sex, AIDS, etc., which is a positive step.

While issues such as pre-marital sex and unwanted pregnancies are not openly discussed, yet avenues are there to help people who find themselves in a quandary. The low cost of the i-Pill can only help in this regard.

The urban Indians seem to be grounded in Indian values and yet seem to have embraced the Western concept or rather rediscovered the ancient Indian art of being comfortable with their sexuality and with their partners.

When asked what would improve sex lives, Indians said that more romance (47 per cent), more fun (46 per cent) and being able to spend more time with their partners (44 per cent) would be among the top priorities, with 45 per cent of surveyed Indians wanting to increase their knowledge so as to make things better for their partner.

Sex, for most, it seems is merely not a bodily function - they want the romance and happily-ever-afters to go along with copulation.