Shubham Agarwal, August 7, 2015

Context: On August 2, 2015, the government of India banned access to at least 857 pornographic websites. A backlash, and a popular hashtag #pornban followed on the social media. The ban was partially revoked later.

Hardik Marwah of Yet Another College of Engineering (YACE) has admitted that he learned more about computer hacks in two days of porn ban than in four years of studying computer science engineering.

The ban on porn sites by the government had left him “high” and “dry”. Instead of giving in to despair, Hardik decided to take matters in his own hand so that he could take his thing in his own hands.

Some of his friends we talked to said it was possibly “the first time” his Google search history showed links not to porn sites but to hacking forums.

NTMN had a brief chat with this self-made man.

NTMN: How did you discover about the ban?

Hardik: Well, it was August 2 when as usual I woke up late to avoid eye contact with my parents, waiting for them to leave for office, and soon after they left, I sprung from my bed to exercise my nether regions. But for some reason, I could not connect to my favourite porn sites.

I thought it might be a technical glitch because that is what I understood after four years of studying computer science. When something doesn’t seem alright, it is probably a glitch.

So, I waited, and in the meantime, logged into 9Gag only to find that even its video section wouldn’t load. It took me some time to realise that it was an iniquitous act of ban on porn that was the reason for this blackout.

NTMN: What did you do next?

Hardik: I cried hysterically of course. My life was taken away from me… but then I recalled that I am an engineer, not a good one but I still am an engineer. I took to Google, learned all about bypassing restrictions using proxy sites, hidden ISP address and even how information flows over the internet.

Finally, when I was able to log in to the porn website, it was a satisfaction I had never felt before. I feel that now I can even crack the Google interview.

NTMN: What message do you wish to give to others facing a similar situation?

Hardik: I have learnt that you value something only when it is taken away from you. Have faith and no ban can stop you from accessing your destiny. No one can stop you from watching porn. Not the government, not the society, not your parents, and not even your erectile dysfunction.

Although the government has clarified that only those sites containing child porn and revenge porn will be blocked, sources say that this ban was just a ploy to increase tourism to Khajuraho and promote the Kamasutra.