So, it’s happened. The government has banned porn sites. Not all of them, mind you. There must be hundreds of thousands of porn sites out there in cyberspace. But only 857 have been banned. Which got me thinking- who decided on these 857 and how? We know how government offices work; even the simplest procedure is tied up in yards of red tape and reams of paperwork. Then, how was this decision taken? Was a committee set up? The ‘Ashleel Sahitya Pratibandh Samiti’ perhaps? I can imagine grim-faced officials, huddled over their laptops; surfing scores of sites and making notes as they went. Maybe they had forms with those little boxes to tick and columns to fill. A porn-rating scale perhaps- going from ‘mildly titillating’ to ‘offensive’, ‘graphic’ and ‘perverted’. Did they meet regularly to discuss their findings and file reports? I hope their ‘Adhyaksh Mahoday’ didn’t give them a rough time if they missed some deadlines.
And finally, after short-listing these 857 sites, did the Samiti have to send the list for approval? If so, to whom? They probably had to make a presentation in one of those conference rooms where all important meetings are held and decisions taken. The presentation would have to contain clippings from those sites, and bullet points detailing why it was necessary to ban them. And after much debate and consultation, the final proposal would be drawn up and the Adhyaksh Mahoday would give it the stamp of approval.
Whatever. Regardless of how this came about, I for one am hugely relieved. And grateful to the Samiti for all its efforts on our behalf. The world is now a better, safer place. Our daughters can now dress as they please and stay out late at night. Travel alone. Visit pubs. On second thoughts…better not. The Samiti might ban them next!
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