Page 16 - Seniorstoday July 2024 Issue

Essay
The Changing Nuances of Intimacy
Influenced by The Kamasutra
Traditional India is wrestling with a new India emerging out of the past; like a
nation going through a moral puberty, writes Vickram Sethi
In a country as diverse as India, the topic of
sex remains a delicate and complex subject.
With deep-rooted cultural norms and
traditions, exploring and understanding
the nuances of intimacy can be a fascinating
journey. From tantra practices to the
Kamasutra, India has a rich history of
embracing sensuality. However, societal
taboos and conservative mindsets still
prevail, creating a dichotomy between the
private and public spheres.
While the rest of the world was pumping
away to glory like animals, we discovered
the joys of sex and a gentleman called
Vātsyāyana wrote a complete treatise on the
science of sex. We later elevated this man
to the status of a sage and Rishi Vātsyāyana
went into great details on sexual pleasure,
desire, love and the pleasures of good living.
The text describes in detail on the positions
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Image courtesy: jagran.com
of sexual intercourse and focuses on a man
of leisure, the women in his life and their
social and physical encounters. The work
is a part of a tradition of eroticism in Indian
literature. Ancient Indians took a healthy
and integrated view of all aspects of life and
gave sex its due importance. The pursuit
of pleasure was considered an important
aspect of daily life. Maithuna or the sexual
act was believed to be as natural as any
other body function and hence no taboos or
inhibitions were attached to it. The hymn
of creation in the Rigveda which is dated
around 900 BC, describes sexual desire as
one of the basics of human existence.
The Kamasutra was written during a
time when the pursuit of pleasure and the
exploration of human desire were seen
as an integral part of a well-rounded life.
It was a period when people sought to