Is Sunny Leone the real reason for spurt in pornography in India?

The incident of brutal sexual assault of a five-year-old, who was kept captive in a room below where her family stays, has once again emphasized the need to ban pornography, courtesy the impact it leaves on people. In their bid to ensure stringent actions against those held culpable, activists have been toiling to ensure pornographic content – which is easily available and accessible through films and websites – is banned.

According to a latest survey, about 60 per cent of internet users watch porn. Also, about 56 per cent of online content is vulgar and offensive. This data makes one think if Indian government is taking any steps to ban porn websites.

But before we delve deeper into the issue, we have to understand how India emerged a hub of porn content.

One of the two men arrested from Bihar for her attack has allegedly provided the police with chilling details of how she was assaulted.

What made people search porn content on Internet? We tried to look for answers by using Google tools.

From 2004 to 2010, India, in terms of which country searches porn content the most, bagged the 9th position. But in 2012, India attained the 5th rank and in the last 12 months, it has bagged the 4th position. The situation is exactly the same when it comes to the search of the word sex. India has always managed to be ahead of other countries. But after September 2011, there was a spurt.

So the question that arises now is the reason behind the spread of pornography in India.

SUNNY LEONE HELPED PEOPLE THINK DIFFERENTLY? 
While many slammed Sunny Leone’s participation in the reality show “Bigg Boss”, the adult star acknowledges the fact that her presence had a positive impact. “My presence on “Bigg Boss” has empowered a lot of people to be open about their sexuality,” Sunny was quoted as saying. While many thought Sunny would quit the porn industry to make it big in Bollywood, she proved everybody wrong by stating the connection is such that it will never end. “I haven't shot for any adult film after my Bigg Boss appearance but that doesn't mean I am quitting the adult industry. I can never be sure enough to give it up. I cannot predict the future and one film in Bollywood does not guarantee I will get many other offers," she had said. Even though Sunny has been slammed for her not-so-great acting potential, the actor has certainly made people not look down  upon the adult industry !
  

In 2011, India bagged 9th position among the countries which searched porn content the most. 

In the last 12 months, India was placed on 4th slot.

In 2012, India attained the 5th rank.
   

If we analyse the graph since 2004, then post 2011, there has been a 1 per cent increase which makes it clear that people started searching for porn content after Sunny Leone arrived.
  

If we take into consideration the number of times word ‘sex’ has been searched on internet then post 2011 there has been an increase.
  

Did you know when Airtel launched its mobile data services in Bihar it became an instant hit with the users? And that within a few months the data usage witnessed a 200 per cent increase? Are you wondering what led to such an impressive growth? It was, as the reports suggested, essentially because people, who subscribed to data plans, were happy using adult content which was accessible sans any problems on their personal mobile devices! If we delve deeper into the findings of this report, we will realize how the number of people usingadult content is increasing by the day! “Like it or not, many people are indeed watching it,” a Mumbai-based mobile phone operator told a daily.  The instance wherein  three Karnataka ministers, who were caught viewing porn content on their phone that too while they were inside the State Assembly and had to give up their jobs, validates the pull of pornography.

CONSUMPTION OF ADULT CONTENT IN INDIA: It has been reported that the US adult entertainment industry, which also includes pornography, is valued at approximately $12 billion (over Rs 60,000 crore). But when it comes to India, there is no data that can identify the industry’s size because of the bans that have been imposed on the distribution of pornographic content. So while viewing and possessing adult content is not an issue, distributing it is still a formidable problem! Likewise, the production of X-rated materials isn’t legal either. Hence, the production of so-called “blue films” is never openly discussed. But this hasn’t deterred the industry, based in Tamil Nadu and Kerala where censorship isn’t all that tough, from being valued an estimated one billion dollars. According to the data that has been given by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in Delhi, about 422 instances of cyber crime were reported and under diverse sections such as pornography last year. Interestingly, Alexa – a Web information company – has stated that out of every 100 searches that are made on the Internet, 24 are with the words “Indian pornographic sites”. If this isn’t too impressive, 47 per cent searches are with the keywords “Indian porn”. Those who aren’t aware of the new jargons and ground-breaking formats, which have been taken from foreign cultures and getting popular on the web, here’s the lowdown! Chikan (meaning "to grope" in Japanese) porn deals only with public molestation in trains. Those keen on knowing more about recurrent ejaculation on a woman by numerous men, 'Bukkake' parties is the keyword. While Shemale and futanari porn refer to "live action" with transsexuals, anime and manga is all about Japanese versions of comics and animation which are sexually explicit. The service sector has now begun to gain a lot of prominence. For the uninitiated, it refers to "shy massage girls" luring clients, doctors and "hot babes in nurse uniforms". In 'corporate porn' "busty secretaries" go down on their knees to satisfy their bosses.

COMMON PERCEPTION OF ADULT STARS:
Did you know where exactly the term “blue film” originated from? It has been deduced from blue sets and lighting which are used with the sole idea to hide actors' identities. The common perception suggests porn stars can never be interpreted in a positive way sans any ridicule and disgust! Since majority of the viewers interpret them as sex workers, this profession isn’t considered respectable! In an interview to a website, Delhi-born Anjali Kara (picture posted above), who is a hardcore porn actress, has a convincing reason for never returning to India permanently. “Indians do not and will never understand what I am doing. In their eyes I am a prostitute and I should be ashamed of myself,” she said.
  

As far as search the search of sex goes, only Sri Lanka has been ahead on India.

  

In the last 12 years, Sunny Leone became the most searched celebrity on Google.