Raghunath Dhondo Keshav Karve and India’s Journey of Sexual Health Awareness

Every year, on September 4, World Sexual Health Day is observed across the globe to emphasise the importance of sexual well-being, reproductive rights, and gender equality. For a country like India, where the word “sex” is often whispered, avoided, or wrapped in layers of taboo, this day is more than symbolic. India’s relationship with sexuality has been a long and layered journey. From celebrating intimacy in ancient times to silencing it under colonial rule, and from reformers like Raghunath Dhondo Keshav Karve pushing boundaries to the government rolling out awareness campaigns, the country’s sexual health story reflects both progress and resistance.

R.D. Karve: The Fearless Reformer

Born in 1882 in Murud, Maharashtra, Raghunath Dhondo Keshav Karve was an educator, social reformer, and one of the earliest advocates of birth control and sexual health in India. He came from a family that valued education, and his father, Dhondo Keshav Karve, was himself a social reformer who championed women’s education and widow remarriage. R.D. Karve inherited this progressive spirit but took it a step further into territory that was far more controversial: sexual rights, reproductive freedom, and women’s sexual pleasure. In 1921, he founded the Society for Birth Control, one of the first organisations in India dedicated to educating people about contraception.

He also began publishing a Marathi magazine called Samaj Swasthya (Social Health), where he wrote fearlessly about sex education, family planning, and gender equality. These writings challenged the moral and cultural restrictions of his time. He was among the first Indians to argue that population growth needed to be controlled for India’s progress, and women should have agency over their bodies, including the choice of when and whether to have children; sexual pleasure was not immoral, and women had as much right to it as men did. For these ideas, he faced ridicule, censorship, and even social isolation. Conservative sections of society accused him of corrupting values, and even progressive leaders sometimes distanced themselves from his work. Yet, he never stopped speaking up.

Sexual Awareness in Ancient India

Karve’s advocacy was not about introducing “Western” ideas but about reviving an openness that India had once embraced. The Kamasutra, written by Vatsyayana around the 3rd century CE, is perhaps the world’s most famous text on sex and intimacy. But beyond positions and techniques, it emphasised mutual respect, consent, emotional bonding, and pleasure for both partners. Temples such as those at Khajuraho, Konark, and Puri feature sculptures that depict erotic imagery alongside daily life, signifying that sex was seen as part of human existence and spirituality. Ayurvedic texts also discussed fertility, reproduction, and sexual well-being as aspects of holistic health. 

The British Influence: From Celebration to Shame

This cultural comfort with sexuality shifted drastically with the arrival of the British colonial rulers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Victorian morality that the British carried with them was conservative and rigid, labelling erotic art and literature as obscene. Erotic sculptures were censored or neglected, while texts like the Kamasutra were banned or suppressed. Public discourse around sex was shut down, and shame was systematically attached to the subject. Under colonial influence, sex became taboo in Indian society. What was once celebrated as natural turned into something sinful or embarrassing. Over time, Indians themselves began internalising this mindset, passing it down through generations. It was in this restrictive atmosphere that Karve began his work, making his reform efforts not only radical but also revolutionary.

Karve’s Struggles and Vision

Karve’s campaigns for birth control and sexual education often met with hostility. He was criticised by politicians, ridiculed in the press, and even attacked for being immoral. Despite these obstacles, he continued to write, teach, and advocate. He envisioned a society where every woman could decide the size of her family without being forced into repeated pregnancies, couples could access reliable contraception to lead healthier lives, sex education would be available to the youth, preventing misinformation and unsafe practices and pleasure and intimacy were recognised as essential for both men and women. Today, many of his ideas are part of mainstream public health discourse, but in his time, they were considered shockingly bold.

Post-Independence: Government Campaigns for Sexual Health

After India’s Independence in 1947, the government recognised the need for population control and health awareness. In 1952, India launched the world’s first national family planning programme. This made India a pioneer in officially acknowledging the importance of contraception and family planning. The 1970s saw one of the most famous campaigns: “Hum Do, Hamare Do”, which encouraged small families. While the programme created awareness, the forced sterilisation drives during the Emergency (1975–77) gave it a negative image.

Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, India had to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) launched widespread campaigns about safe sex, condom use, and awareness of sexually transmitted infections. Slogans like “Use Condoms, Stay Safe” became part of popular media, slowly normalising discussions around sexual safety. In more recent years, government and non-government campaigns have broadened their focus. They now include adolescent sex education in schools, menstrual hygiene awareness for girls, campaigns promoting safe motherhood and reproductive rights, and conversations around consent and gender equality. 

Why Karve’s Work Matters Even Today

Even though Karve worked almost a century ago, his ideas remain deeply relevant as stigma still exists. Many schools and families avoid sex education, leading to misinformation among young people. Women’s autonomy is still questioned, and access to contraception and abortion remains unequal, particularly in rural areas. Pleasure remains taboo, too. While Karve spoke openly about women’s right to sexual pleasure, even today, this subject is largely avoided. 

The story of sexual health in India is not just about biology; it is about culture, freedom, and dignity. Ancient India treated sex as a natural and celebrated part of life. Colonial rule buried it under shame. Reformers like R.D. Karve worked tirelessly to revive open, healthy discussions, often at great personal cost. Post-Independence, government programmes have played a crucial role in promoting awareness, but social stigma remains a hurdle. And today, content creators and influencers like Leeza Mangaldas, Dr. Tanaya Narendra, and sexual wellness brands in India like My Muse, the Bold Care, Sassiest, and more create awareness through social media, catering to a wider audience with the gift of technology. 

India has the opportunity to reclaim its tradition of openness while embracing modern health campaigns. By doing so, we can create a future where sexual health is not a taboo but a celebrated part of well-being, equality, and human rights.