The die was cast but sex education was nowhere in sight. One example seemingly formed a base for the other and the youth were chanting the mantra of ``pleasure first''. Sex education had still hardly just come into view. Shunned by the society, an increasing number of clandestine relations simmered behind closed doors. Few understood the essence of complex-free adult sexuality and, even fewer, the importance of a developed psycho-sexual personality. In the wake of such gross ignorance were a number of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), lack of sexual orientation, guilt complexes, extremism and a whole gamut of misconceptions.

The correct attitude towards sexuality takes a severe beating if measured against a recent survey conducted in the State of Maharashtra by Kama Research Institute of Scientific Sexuality (KRISS), a public charitable trust teaching scientific sexuality. As high as 55 per cent of the respondents have undergo sexual experiences before the age of 21 and 57 per cent of them have enjoyed pre-marital sex. But alarmingly a high percentage derive sexual knowledge from extremely unreliable sources like friends and x-rated films. A physician and sexologist, Dr R S Sathe, says, ``Peer group information on sex is more often than not, from the most ill-informed.'' In the same context, it is just as easy to fall prey to the so-called `adult' films. A large portion of the youth do not realise that such films are expertly edited to be erotically explicit but not meant for scientific viewing. Believing such contents is largely responsible in creating misconceptions and inferiority complexes among the viewers.

Dr S D Samak, one of the leading sexologists in the country and founder chairman of KRISS, looks at the sexual attitude as one belonging to an age group who are not averse to exploring and experimenting. The increasing advent of the media has given them an excuse to direct their sexual attitude towards more fun. It is then, hardly surprising to see them burdened under numerous myths, guilt, a feeling of sin and psycho-personality disorders like mother fixation, heterosexual aversion and starving phenomenon. The good news - the youth are slowly waking up to the challenge. Non-government organisations like KRISS, FPAI (Family Planning Association of India) and CSEPI are assisting them in discarding their inhibitions and hope to reveal a whole new breed of individuals who achieve sound psycho-sexual development.

According to experts, sex education is a must for everybody and should not be restricted to solely those having sexual myths and misconceptions or sexual problems. The awareness regarding sexual health, sex and intercourse, pregnancy, disease and protective and contraceptive methods is necessary for both sexes. This can be infused in phases at school level to students, restricted to the extent of their grasping capacities and extended to full scale counselling sessions and seminars at college level. According to Samak, ``We do not want to teach the youth morality because the concepts of morality differ vastly from one person to another. Instead, we aim at imparting a healthy sexual attitude through scientific information.''

In this context, the contribution of AIDS towards sexual education cannot be discounted. Tersely, stated by Sathe, ``AIDS has been a blessing in disguise.'' And true it is! The fatal nature of this sexually transmitted disease has been largely responsible for steering the ignorant towards seeking help and advice.

As of today, the youth pride themselves as rebels against pre-fixed values but completely overlook the fact that their exuberance is directionless without wholesome knowledge. Sex education is lagging far behind sexual indulgence and therein lies the downslide of their ignorance. Urgently required is a positive approach to acquiring sexual knowledge and reading scientifically written books by authorised practitioners is the best way of achieving that end. It is time to make more grown-up, informed choices as also to tackle the problem head-on. Look the other way, and you might not get a second chance.