How Courtesans became one of the first financially independent women of India?

 How Courtesans became one of the first financially independent women of India?

Credits: The telegraph India

Known by various names like tawaifs in the North, Naikins in Goa, these were some of the few names of women who carried art and culture throughout the time. But their contribution to India’s classical arts was scrubbed by rumors and their culture was lately remarked as 'prostitution' by many. Courtesans were the center of art and culture for centuries, they were excellent in both music and dance. Thus was not clear whether they had many sexual relationships or not and if they do had those sexual relationships with patrons was likely consensual. Even in those times too they were not acceptable by the society with open arms but still admired for their knowledge in art. Courtesans were divided into hierarchies too, tawaifs were at the top and street prostitutes comes a class lower than tawaifs. Tawaifs were highly sophisticated Courtesan and they also contributed to music, dance, theatre and the Urdu literary tradition.

Credits: The India observer describing tawaif of Lucknow

With the annexation of Oudh by the British in 1856 was the first breakdown for the Courtesans. Thus culture was not liked by Britishers and the women were called as prostitutes to defame them.

Oudh was one of the only places where this art is supported. The East India Company was growing at that time and because of the negative attitude of company towards Courtesans, tawaifs responded by playing an active role in the movement for freedom from behind the scenes. Their working places which were called kothas became an ideal meeting zones and hiding place for rebels and freedom fighters. Their status either it’s financial or social started deteriorating little by little, by the time of non-cooperation and Swadeshi Movement their culture was on a urge to be extinct. Gauhar Jaan (one of the most popular courtesan) who found immense success as a recording artist in the 1900s. There was one famous incident which is remarkable about her that she also helped in Independence struggle by helping Mahatma Gandhi financially in their Swaraj Movement Fund. 

Credits: Mint, Gauhar Jaan

Cinema have also done a very good job in depicting Courtesans and mostly courtesans who could not be courtesans any longer shifted to Bombay. The first woman director, producers, choreographers were also courtesans. Some also played a lead role in the movies example one of the most famous actress of that time Nargis was a daughter of a Courtesan.

Credits: Dawn, depiction of Rekha as a Courtesan in movie Umrao jaan.

The roles of Courtesans were also depicted in the movies as modern, powerful, independent and as a single working mother’s (which was stereotypical not possible for most of the women at that time). Like in movie Amar Prem the lead actress was shown as a working single mother. Courtesans in their times do own property and pay taxes too when this culture was alive. Some popular movies which depicted Courtesans as a main character were Umrao Jaan (1981), Tawaif (1985), Devdas (2002), Amar Prem (1972), Begum Jaan and Netflix series like 'A suitable boy' also gave a hint of livelihood of courtesans after Independence.

Credits: The Hindu, a suitable boy

Even though there was always a big difference between sex workers and Courtesans but this difference was somehow blurred with time. Courtesans left a message of power, independence, equality and broad knowledge of classical music and dance in the history.