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After Pooja Bhatt's semi-nude photograph, it is the turn of gods and goddesses to
appear on Internet. A photograph of a nude woman posing as a Hindu goddess,
depicted as a sex symbol on the Internet, might create another controversy.
The picture of the woman, sitting on a stool like a goddess and carrying different
sex toys on her seven hands was created by Katharine Gates. Though there is no
mention of a goddess in the text accompanying the photograph, anyone who sees the
picture can make out the hint. The picture is available on, www.infi.net/
heck/sprinkleshow.html.
There is a striking resemblance between the woman and the goddess Durga.
Only, while the goddess carries weapons in her hands, the woman is shown carrying
sex toys; and instead of sitting on a lion, she is shown perched on a stool with a
cat nearby. 'They have a goddess, hurting the religious sentiments of millions of
Indians," alleged an Internet user who downloaded the photograph.
The-picture with a headline "Annie Sprinkle's Home Page' claims it was presented
by Gates of Heck with online collaboration of an artist, Annie Sprinkle. The page
states, 'Annie Sprinkle is a renowned performance artist, author and photographer,
who makes use of her lifetime's experience in the sex industry and spiritual
learning to teach others her uniquely humorous and affirming way of sexual
healing'.
The page further mentions 11 other sub-titles, including "Forty-one Uses for Sex",
"Guidelines for Sex in the 90s", the "Metamorpho Sex Workshop" and "Performances
and Wild Cards"- a new documentary on Home Box Office.
The image comes close on the heels of the Pooja Bhatt morph, which was downloaded
from the Internet and published by a prominent film magazine from Mumbai. A series
of protests prompted the Mumbai Police to register a case and initiate
proceedings.
The image is another striking example of how the ill-effects of the Net are
invading the drawing rooms in India. Anyone can get access to obscene photographs
and blue films through Internet. He simply has to go for any of the search
engines, Yahu, Alta Vista, Excite, Keyword, and then search accordingly.
Concerned over the misuse of Internet, some western countries have developed
software including Net Nanacy, Search Watchers, and Cyber Police, which can
prevent viewing of obscene pictures and films. But most of the software is
confined to Western countries.
Expressing helplessness in taking action against the Internet to stop obscenity,
Delhi Police passed the buck on to the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, saying only
they could do something "for the prevention of obscenity".
"We can take suo motu action and register cases against Internet under Sections
292 and 294 of Indian Penal Code. But this would hardly help, as we cannot go to
the States and take action," said a senior police officer.
"Banning obscenity through wire is the responsibility of the VSNL which is
providing connections to Internet subscribers in the Capital," said a senior
police officer.
Admitting that nothing can be done to prevent this, a senior officer of VSNL said
they were trying to keep a constant surveillance on obscene pictures and films and
restrict its circulation. "But there is no fool proof system," he added.
Last year, a music company, Sony, had come out with a rock album. On the cover of
the cassettes, the company had depicted a man with a cat face standing on a snake.
Indians living in the USA took serious note as the person on the cover was posing
as Lord Krishna. Several complaints were sent to the company and finally it was
forced to withdraw the cover from the Internet.
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