Unlikely Champ

his office doors to make a

special place for HIV positive people.

This man, passionate about most things in life, is just as passionate about this cause. ‘‘I am not passionate about it,’’ he says, adding, ‘‘I am overtaken by it. We all are and we have no choice.’’ And that’s why he put himself through training with WHO’s first team which came to India to study high-risk behaviour groups. Along with his office staff, he has attended many UNDP workshops which sensitise trainees to the psychological impact of isolating HIV positive people,

instead of integrating them.

‘‘Studies have thrown up some crazy numbers,’’ Kakkar points out. ‘‘Over two million people in India are infected. But what is more frightening is that 12 million are running around not knowing that they are infected and not wanting to know, because then they stand to get isolated.’’ This, according to him, is where he is stepping in with his helpline—to answer questions and encourage people to get themselves tested. ‘‘One has to behave responsibly. It’s not enough just to not get knocked up, but also not to get infected.’’ And so the drawer in his office table is topped up with condoms (charity and responsible behaviour begin at home, he is quick to point out). During the course of his work, Kakkar is constantly in touch with high profile film and cricketing celebrities and is working towards roping them in to spread awareness. Especially for women. Says Prahlad, ‘‘Should a man come into direct contact with a HIV positive woman, then the chances of him getting infected are one in 30. However, if a woman has sex with an HIV positive man, then 99 per cent of the time she is sure to get infected.’’ The reason, he points out, is that the AIDS virus is transmitted blood to blood or tissue to tissue. In the case of a woman, if a man ejaculates into her then he does so directly into tissue. In the case of a man, the virus has to travel up the catheter before it reaches the tissue. Which is why it is important that a woman insists a man wear a condom. ‘‘All this baloney that wearing condoms and having sex is like wearing socks and washing your feet is nonsense. It does not take away the sensation or the spontaneity,’’ he says. Which is why Prahlad’s message on condoms goes: ‘‘If it’s not on, it’s not on.’’

Contact Prahlad Kakkar on 022-56627375, genesisfilms@yahoo.com