Integrity Score 130
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I have always been drawn to erotica. Today as a doctor practising sexology for the 51 years, I can say with certainty that most of our sexual problems arise from a single conflict—desiring sex, but feeling obliged to hide the fact most of the time.
I became a passionate collector of erotica thanks to Mulk (Mulk Raj Anand, late Indian writer. I started my collection with the 19th century Kangra paintings, which he gifted me, when I went to his house as the president of the World Sexology Conference in 1985 to request him help me organise an erotic exhibition in connection with the conference.
I had no clue about art and wanted someone to help me organise the erotic exhibition, which was a pre-condition for the conference. So I looked up the phone directory and gave him a cold call. It eventually turned into a life-long friendship. It was Mulk who gave me the advice to spend half a day at the
local flea market, whenever I went abroad for some lecture or the other. The advice proved useful to me. I have picked up a lot of valuable things from places like China and Japan during my visit.
At least 50 erotic items in my collection are more than 2,000 years old. The oldest artifact is from Syria: the image of a man masturbating. It dates back to 5,500 BC.
Many of the items were gifted to me by my clients, who were grateful for my intervention in their sexual recovery.
I also have one of the world’s oldest Ganesha in my collection, dating back to the fourth century.
All the antique artifacts I have in my possession have been evaluated, authenticated and registered with the archeological survey of India.
Collecting erotica is a passion, which I have cultivated. In the years to come, I would even like to pass it on to somebody who is a good collector.
(Concludes)
(Dr Prakash Kothari is India’s pioneering sexologist. In conversation with Sangeeth Sebastian, writer and founder, Vvox, a sextech platform. The biography is a part of an AKADialog initiative to capture the lives of newsmakers.)