This survey confirms the fact that there has been a growing awareness among
Indians about their sexual life and ways to break the monotony. The usage of
sex toys is one among them.
"At times my husband failed to help me reach orgasm. This problem ended since I
bought a dildo," says Anajli Saxena of Defence Colony in New Delhi.
Sex toys have been available for hundreds of years. The first documented use of
a dildo comes from 3 rd century Greece, where merchants sold something called
an olisbos. In Renaissance Italy, the olisbo morphed into the dildo probably
from the Italian diletto, which means 'to delight'. Modern rubber dildos,
resembling the ones we see today, came into being in the mid-19th century.
However, to avail the service of a sex toy is not that easy in India. The law
even doesn't permit its usage. That is why there is no Indian manufactures of
sex toys. Most of the apparatus available in India are either manufactured in
China or personally imported.
"Though we recommend the usage of sex toys to couples or single person for
sexual gratification, we cannot advice it legally. Besides we cannot suggest
them a place to buy. It's sad for a country where the first treatise on sex was
written," says Dr. Mahesh Nawal, Indore based sexologist.
Dr. Hitesh Shah of Mumbai, however, doesn't subscribe to this view. "The usage
of sex toys is not at all good for healthy sexual life. It may finish the
desire for a normal sex life and result in many genital diseases," he says.
"Vatsayana clearly says that if a male is unable to satisfy his partner, it's
his duty to use any other article or ways to help her reach orgasm. He even
suggested the use of dildos which he called apdravya ," counters Dr Nawal.
Eminent sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari also says that sex toys were used in
Vatsyayana's Kamasutra, where he advocated the use of pratimas - the ancient
term for inflatable sex dolls available today.
Chennai based sexologist Dr T Kamraj takes the middle path. "The usage of sex
toys depends on your habit and requirements. It's at least safer than
experimenting with unsafe sex options. But it can never replace natural sexual
gratification," he concludes.
Types of sex toys
Vibrator: Vibrators come in three distinct types. The classic one is a
penis-shaped, battery powered shaft of plastic.
The second type of vibrator is the 'wand' vibrator. These large, club-shaped
vibrators provide stimulation while the wall current provides power jerks, but
these were apparently not intended as sex toys, but rather as personal
massagers.
The third type of vibrator, the 'handle' or 'coil' type, looks vaguely like a
small hairdryer with a small, perpendicular shaft out of the thicker end to
accommodate a variety of soft plastic or latex heads.
Price range: Rs 400 to Rs 5000 (Made throughout the world, but primarily
in China, Taiwan and Korea) Rs 1,000 to Rs 5000 (Battery powered)
Dildo: Intended as substitutes for the male sexual organ, dildos come in
different shapes and sizes. These are intended for both women and men for
clitoral or anal stimulation.
Price range: Rs 1000 to Rs 10,000
Butt plug: A butt plug is a kind of dildo with a bulge in the centre,
much like a spindle, so that the shaft gradually thickens, flares out, and then
begins to narrow again. In general, once inside the rectal cavity, the flare of
a well- chosen butt plug will rub directly against those nerve clusters by the
opening of the anus, the ones which signal your need to defecate. Depending
upon how your brain is wired, denying or understanding this signal can be a
very pleasurable experience, or an extremely uncomfortable one.
Butt plugs, however, are not available in India.
Cock ring: A cock ring is an object that typically goes around the base
of both the penis and scrotum. Since veins are closer to the surface of the
skin than arteries, this has the effect of allowing blood to flow into the
penis but restricts its ability to flow outwards, thus aiding in attaining and
maintaining erection. Most cock rings are made of chrome steel or rubber. They
have to be chosen carefully, sized for the user.
Cock rings are also not very commonly used in India.
Price range: Rs 800 to Rs 1000
Dolls: Sex dolls tend to be replica of the human form. They are either
made of plastic or rubber. Some of these dolls are inflatable. Dolls usually
come with openings like mouth and vagina. Price range: Rs 3000 to Rs 10,000
Vaginal shaped products: As the name suggests these products are
substitute for a female genital.
Price range: Rs 1000 to Rs 5000
Sex toys may get kinkier and weirder, depending on the user. Vibrating beads,
nipple clamps and toys to stimulate men; handcuffs and even feathers, if it
works for you, it's out there.
As these sex toys are not legal in India, they are not openly available in
India. But the enthusiasts still find a way. In Delhi, one can try their luck
in the Lajpat Rai Market in Chandni Chowk. Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh is
another place where sex toys are sold in grey market. In Mumbai these tools are
easily available in the Fort area.
While people in the West have long been adventurous with these sex toys,
growing awareness and exposure to media have encouraged Indians to break free
the barriers and explore their sexual lives more. "Let's hope the government
legalises the usage of sex toys. It will actually help in controlling sexually
transmitted diseases and AIDS. Besides if these toys are indigenously
manufactured they will be much cheaper," concludes Dr. Nawal.
