Exactly a year ago, India Today conducted the first-ever survey of sexual attitudes among Indian women. And unleashed quite a storm. Letters from morally outraged readers, accusations that we were corrupting children, allegations that all the respondents were lying, even a legal challenge or two. India, we were told, was still a traditional country where sex should not be discussed.

PICTURE SPEAK

Our Sept 15, 2003 cover

There is another side to the story. The issue was sold out. While there were those who shunned an open discussion on sex, there were others who had a sense of curiosity. Yes, we know sex sells but our survey was not meant to titillate; it was intended to track the sexual attitudes of urban Indian women. We may not talk about sex but Indians do form strong opinions about it. It is our job to track that thinking, keep our finger on India's pulse. Retreat or silence on the subject of sex is just not an option.

So the India Today sex report is back and this time we decided to talk to men. AC Nielsen and ORG-MARG spoke to men between the ages of 18 and 55 in 11 Indian cities. We made a few changes in the methodology: instead of interviews or discussions the respondents filled in a questionnaire and put it into a ballot box to ensure anonymity.

So what do Indian men think about when they think of sex? Some answers surprised us, others may reassure you. Of the 89 per cent that rated sex as important in their lives, the city-wise break-up put Ahmedabad as No. 1 in this category. Last year, the women from Ahmedabad voted with similar enthusiasm, more than their sisters in other cities. Who said men and women cannot agree?

But the overwhelming trend, similar to the women's survey, is one of conservatism. Going by our survey results, what Indian men want seems to be coy, beautiful virgins in saris. Even though 76 per cent said they believed in equal pleasure for men and women during sex, 77 per cent said they would refuse to marry a woman who had had premarital sex. When asked if they would end a relationship if the partner was unfaithful, only 26 per cent said yes, with 38 per cent saying they would talk it out. Aishwarya Rai may be a global goddess and Mallika Sherawat the latest It girl, but the Indian males' fantasy woman was usually someone in their own lives, preferably under a waterfall.

Our cover story gives an insight into the sexual attitudes of the Indian man. Assistant Editor Shefalee Vasudev who coordinated this survey, and the one on women, found men more cautious. "In personal interviews, women speak passionately about their sexual desires. But men remain guarded. They seem to be afraid of shedding the armour of conservatism," she says. Going by our successive sex surveys, it is clear that in spite of major changes in society, men and women are still steeped in traditional values as far as sex is concerned.

(Aroon Purie)

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