Meant to raise awareness about safe sex and AIDS prevention, shuts shop after falling prey to official prudishness
Meant to raise awareness about safe sex and AIDS prevention, shuts shop after falling prey to official prudishnessIndia's first and only Condom Bar, which generated international curiosity, has closed due tou00a0 official prudishness. The bar, located in the Kalagram complex on the busy Chandigarh-Panchkula highway, was inaugurated by an AIDS patient in May, 2007. It was launched amid tremendous hype by the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO), a semi-government corporation.
Village theme
In less than three years after it made national and international headlines for the unique concept, the condom theme has been dumped by CITCO officials, though the bar drinking area continues at the Kalagram complex. Instead of condoms, though, the theme will now be a village.
"We are changing the concept of the bar to a village theme. The earlier bar continues to be there but the condom concept is being replaced. The requirement for this arose after a crafts fair was organised at Kalagram recently," CITCO managing director D K Tiwari said.
u00a0Sources in CITCO, however, revealed that the management and the Chandigarh administration officials were "too embarrassed" with the condom theme and hence decided to change it.
The bar was the brainchild of senior IAS officer Jasbir Singh Bir, who was then managing director of CITCO.
When it was launched, it was decorated with real condoms in different colours and varieties dotting the wall amid the liquor bottles. Now, the condoms at the bar have been removed along with all souvenirs that were initially put up to go with the condom theme.
u00a0Besides having souvenirs like cups, T-shirts and caps highlighting the use of condoms and safe sex, the bar even had a counter that offered free condoms. Female condoms were also on offer.
'Sad day'
An upset Bir said: "I feel sad that the unique condom concept has been taken off. This is a regressive step. When the condom bar opened, we had enquiries from all over the world. The concept was appreciated by the union health ministry, UN organisations and the international media ."
When it was being opened, several senior officers of the Chandigarh administration had reportedly tried to scuttle the condom bar concept. None of the top officials came for the inauguration.
Rise and fall
The Condom Bar hit a high within four months of its launch. Liquor sales combined with distribution of free condoms were on the rise -- making it a successful venture despite initial apprehensions. People coming to the bar started picking the free condoms and even the paid ones. Though not in big numbers, female condoms were also being taken away from the bar by women.
However, CITCO did not pay much attention to the bar after Bir was transferred in 2008. The vending machine would rarely have condoms, and free condoms weren't available either.
35 monthsThe short lifespan of the Condom Bar -- from May, 2007 to March, 2010
2,200The highest number of condoms picked up inu00a0 a month by men and women visiting the bar
