Dr Mahinder Watsa, famous Indian sexologist and sexpert, passed away on the morning of December 28 due to natural causes. He was 96 years old. He used to write for Ask the sexpert column in Mumbai Mirror.
The column was known for not only educating people about sexual health but also for Dr Watsa's witty responses for the in matters between the sheets.
An official statement by his children read:
Lesser known facts about the sexpert, Mahinder Watsa:
- Watsa studied at a medical college in Mumbai.
- He lived in the United Kingdom for a while in the 1950s when Watsa worked as a hospital houseman and registrar.
- After returning to India, Watsa found work as a medical officer but simultaneously started private practice as a gynaecologist and obstetrician.
- He started his career as a columnist in the 1960s.
- In his late 30s, Watsa was asked to write a medical advice column for a women's magazine such as Femina, Flair and Trend.
- He authored health columns for many womens' magazines until the 1970s when his work was reportedly resisted by an editor who insisted on censoring queries about sexual health.
- Over the years, Watsa became aware that there was a lack of sex education in India. Thus, in 1974 when he was working as a consultant for the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Watsa proposed that a sexual education program should be introduced in the country.
- The FPAI accepted his proposal and started India's first sex education, counselling and therapy centre despite oppositions.
- He left practice in the early 1980s to work full-time in counselling and education.
(Inputs from wires)
