Indians enjoy happy sex lives, but know little till 15

By Kavita Bajeli-Datt
New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Indians lead fulfilling sex lives but get their first formal sex education at a little over 15 years of age as compared to the West where lessons on the birds and the bees start from 12, says a new global study.

Though Indians know how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, awareness on how to avoid pregnancy is very low.

These are the findings of the “Face of Global Sex 2008 - The path to sexual confidence” survey conducted among 26,000 people in 26 countries by condom manufacturer Durex to explore the effectiveness of sex education.

“India starts sex education for children a little after 15 years, though in Western countries it starts from 12 onwards,” the report said.

This could be one of the reasons why Indians had little knowledge of how to avoid pregnancy. Indians scored a mere 70 percent, even less than Japan at 70.9 percent. The highest was scored by South Africa (86.5 percent) and Spain (86 percent).

“These results highlight the need for good school-based education. Unfortunately, in many countries high quality school-based sexual education is lacking,” the report said.

The study also found that most Asian countries fell well behind Western countries when it came to being confident about protecting themselves against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS.

It pointed out that in Mexico, a child receives formal sex education at the age of 12 - perhaps the reason why its people scored one of the highest (81.6 percent) on overall confidence about sex.

“Comprehensive and inclusive sex education between the ages of 11 and 16 is vital for people to develop sexual confidence in later life. Also, those who have more confidence are better equipped to protect themselves against STIs and unwanted pregnancies,” it said.

In Asia, India and China are the two countries that start sex education in school when children are 15 years and above. Other countries in the region start education either a little before or a little after a child turns 14.

Indians, however, seemed to fare better as far as other Asian countries were concerned on knowing where to go for help and guidance on sex.

While India scored 68.8 percent, Malaysia stood at 67.6 percent and China scored 66.1 when it came to knowing where to go for help on sex. The other countries were Singapore (66.1 percent), Hong Kong (63.2 percent) and Thailand (61.7 percent).

The survey showed that Japan scored less in terms of most criteria - not only in Asia but globally too. Despite Japan starting sex education at 12 years, they are the least confident about sex (58.8 percent), have no idea whom to turn to for guidance (42.4 percent) and how to avoid pregnancy (70.9 percent).

No wonder people in Japan do not lead a happy and fulfilling sex life. They scored 54.3 percent - the lowest in the world - with the highest scored by Brazil (79.6 percent), Mexicans (78.4 percent) and Nigerians (78.2 percent) in this aspect.

India scored 72.4 percent as far as having a good sex life was concerned. As compared to other Asian countries, it scored a little less than Malaysia that got 73.5 percent.

In this aspect, India was also better off than Germany, France, Australia, Poland, Russia, Singapore and Thailand as far as having a fulfilling sex life is concerned, the report said.

The report  found that although parents and guardians were the most successful confidence boosters, they were only listed as the eighth most likely source to be approached for sex education - falling well behind friends, the internet and TV.

There were also distinct gender differences in terms of where people go for information on sexual issues. Males were more likely to use the media - magazines, the internet, TV and radio - or institutional sources.

Females, on the other hand, preferred more interpersonal sources, such as parents, partners, family and doctors

Peck, not kiss, darling: Shilpa to London glitterati
By Dipankar De Sarkar

London, July 2 (IANS) Nervous Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has had it with kissing on stage in front of Indians - a peck on the cheek is about the furthest she will go, even in London, she has made it plain.

The last time she did it - during an AIDS awareness event in New Delhi with Hollywood star Richard Gere in April last year - furious Indian Hindu nationalists burnt her effigies and slapped court cases against her and Gere up and down the country.

Tellingly, Shilpa invoked memories of the Indian intolerance during a dinner held Tuesday night to celebrate and encourage diversity in Britain.

Stepping in to help galvanise a charity auction - the item under hammer was dinner with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Wembley - Shilpa climbed up to the stage, took the mike and told her audience of London glitterati: “Come on people - this is for charity. The winner will get a kiss from me!”

With memories of the Indian protests yet to be erased, she then added quickly: “But it will be on the cheek. I don’t want my effigies burnt again.”

Starting off on a low 100 pounds, the prospects of dining with Brown and British sporting celebrities was moving at a slow canter before Shilpa stepped in with her incentive for the worthy cause of helping diabetes testing in Britain.

After being stuck on the 5,000 pounds-mark for some time, the bid was won by a young man who pledged 12,500 pounds for the dinner - and also picked up three kisses on the cheek as a bargain.

Shilpa, who won the Global Diversity Award along with British racing driver Lewis Hamilton, met Prime Minister Brown earlier Tuesday when he congratulated her.

The auction raised over 63,000 pounds for the Silver Star Appeal, a charity that runs mobile diabetes assessment units.

Indian-origin MP Keith Vaz, who launched the charity last year after being diagnosed as a diabetes patient, said the money would buy the charity’s third mobile unit.

“One of these buses will be sent to India,” Vaz told IANS.

Tuesday night’s auction saw a fierce bidding war for an item titled Bollywood Dreams - the heady chance to fly to India, meet superstar Amitabh Bachchan, bag a walk-on part in the movie “Teen Patti” and be shown around Bollywood City, to be followed by a calming tea with British High Commissioner to India Sir Richard Stagg in New Delhi.

It was won by Sri Prakash Lohia, chairperson of the Indian multinational group Indorama, who pledged 25,000 pounds.

I think I look pretty hot: Charlize Theron
Indo-Asian News Service

London, July 2 (IANS) Hollywood actress Charlize Theron is extremely happy with the way she looks and says she knows she is beautiful.

Mirror.co.uk reports her saying: “I don’t have hang-ups about the way I look.”

Theron, who posed for Elle magazine recently, added: “I can see myself in the mirror when I’m all done up and I think I look pretty hot.”

‘Ugly Aur Pagli’ songs are peppy, enjoyable (Music Review)
By Meghna Menon

Film: “Ugly Aur Pagli”
Music Composer: Anu Malik
Lyricist: Amitabh Verma
Singers: Shaan, Mika Singh, Anmol Malik, Anu Malik, Anushka Manchanda, Ishq Bector, Dibyendu Mukherjee, Vasundhara Das, Mohit Chauhan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Krishna, Hard Kaur
Music Rights
Ratings: ***

Comedies don’t always have great audio tracks, but there are exceptions. And “Ugly Aur Pagli” is one of them. Anu Malik’s compositions are young and vibrant without sounding too mushy or immature.

Ishq Bector of “Aye hip hopper” fame seems to be the flavour of the season. He sings “Karle gunah ankhiya milake” along with Anushka Manchanda. The track is a Punjabi-cum-Hindi one with shades of rap and hip-hop. It is fun, playful and peppy and singers do complete justice to the song. Kudos to Anu Malik for making it an interesting piece!

Next is “Shut up aa nachle”, which is sung by Anu Malik, Vasundhara Das and Dibyendu Mukherjee. It has a Latin flavour to it and lyrics by Amitabh Verma are in Hinglish. While Vasundhara’s voice is very soothing, Anu’s rendition doesn’t really match up.

“Talli main talli ho gayi” is a sure shot dance number. Rendered by Hard Kaur, Anmol Malik and Mika, the song has a mix of Punjabi-Hindi lyrics that are innovative and good-humoured.

As soon as you see Mohit Chauhan’s name on the credits of “Yeh nazar aaye jaaye”, you know the song shouldn’t disappoint. No doubts, the singer has rendered yet another commendable piece that boasts of romantic music and lyrics.

“Yeh nazar aur ye” follows - an absolutely peppy and sprightly track. And Sunidhi’s vivacious rendition does complete justice to the composition. It is a love piece that has a contemporary touch to it. While it is not a chartbuster hit, it won’t sink without a trace either.

“Ugly Aur Pagli” offers enjoyable music and the songs have a special zing in them. It definitely makes for some interesting hear.