Moly, a 22-year-old girl, can't remember from when she has been here. When asked, she says, ��� I was brought here by one uncle. He promised me a job. But now, I am a brand prostitute.��� Where does one go from here?
RABEYA, MOLY, Pushpa, Sabina and many more like them cannot remember when they last lived a normal life. Generally, their day’s routine begins little later than that of others. Unlike other professionals, they don’t have to get up early in the morning and prepare for office. They are not bothered about the traffic jam that keeps almost every Delhitie tense during peak hours of the day. For obvious reasons, they don’t prefer to come out in broad daylight. Only after the dusk enters in, does their day begin. Their service hours commence from the evening up to almost the wee hours of the next morning .They work without any leave. Unlike others, holidays make their work schedule even more hectic.
These people work like anyone else but they do not have any reporting boss, month and date is no criterion for their salaries, its all instant for these women . All these girls are not as high-salaried as the call centre employees, who also work throughout the night in air-conditioned office and serve for their foreign clients. But girls like Moly, Pushpa, Sabina serve for both the Indian and foreign nationals. They say that they can’t remember who initiated them into this profession. Every night, they toil hard to please their customers so that they can get good tips after the service. They have only one identity – the civilised society refers to them as ’prostitutes’. these ’kothewalis’ have no fancy designations. As the evening enters in, these ’kothewalis’ doll up in attractive sarees, salwar suits or western dresses. After being bedecked, they come out on roads or wait in the balcony to attract their clients. They prefer to wait in such places where traffic is not too thick. The clients, they say, come on their own and pick them up. After that either they are brought to a hotel, farm house or to a small ’kothas’ (rooms) in Garstin Bastion Road, commonly known as ’GB Road’, the largest red light area in Delhi. Some of the ’kothewalis’ do not have to go outside as they have thier own ’dalals’ (pimps). These pimps bring clients after proper bargaining. Even, the payments are dealt by these men.
There were five red-light areas in Delhi during the Mughal era. But the British closed all except the one at GB Road, named after a British collector. In 1965, the name was officially changed to Swami Shradhanand Marg. But people prefer to call this area as GB Road. This place has 20 buildings. Besides prostitution, this area is famous for renowned hardware materials. It is a place where prostitutes are available for all classes of customers. Surprisingly, people from all strata of society come to this place for their carnal pleasures. Moly, a 22-year-old girl, can’t remember from when she has been here. When asked, she said, “ I was brought here by one uncle. He promised me a job. But now, I am a brand prostitute.” How does she carry on her life now? “I generally prefer to be picked up by my clients. Actually, I share a single room with Pushpa. As she gets busy during night, I have to vacate her room,” Moly laughed with a wink. While asked whether she enjoys every night outside, she replied, “It depends upon the client, as to where he takes me. Generally, the Paharganj hotels are available for one or two nights. There are few good and nice clients with whom I have stayed for even two consecutive nights.” Perhaps, Moly enjoys better in air-conditioned hotels rather than staying in GB Road ’kothas’. When asked whether she gets a client every night, she answered, “It matters upon seasons. Generally, I get clients for 18 days at least in a month. If I do not get anyone by 9 pm , I come back to my kotha." Where does she stay then? “For those nights, I share rooms with my friends, who also do not get clients on that day. Sometimes, Pushpa also goes vacant. I stay with her then,” Moly giggled again. Pushpa seems to be more professional than Moly. She has been in this business for the last 10 years. Born and brought up in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, Pushpa chose this profession to earn her livelihood. Once she reached GB Road, she never visited her house again. Pushpa’s parents are still alive, whom she sends money every month. But, her parents neither call her nor visit her GB Road apartment, she said with a sad glint in her eyes. Pushpa has her pimp, named Pappu. “Pappu is very believable, he never cheats me”, said Pushpa, “He gets his share regularly. But he brings good clients.” What is the definition of good clients to them? Those, who do not bargain too much, pay properly before and after the service, remain gentle throughout the service-hours are referred to them as ’good clients’. Who are the worst clients? “Army”, was the collective answer. Almost all of them complained that the armed forces personnels come in groups, get service and leave them unpaid. “We are also workers, our brand is that of a ’sex-worker’, but they do not pay us,” complained Moly. Even, the dalals also don’t dare to take on the these people as they are ’powerful’. We keep these pimps to control our clients,” said Rabeya, another friend of Pushpa. She is also in the same profession. According to Rabeya, there are some clients who are very rude and ruthless. They take the service, but do not pay after that. Instead of getting paid, Rabeya was once beaten up brutally.She lost became unconscious after that. She did not dare to file a complaint with the police, as the client was socially powerful and threatened to kill her, all this for a paltry sum. Rabeya has a two-year-old baby, named Raju. “Who’ll feed him if I am not alive?” Rabeya’s voice broke as her eyes were moist with tears. When asked about Raju’s father, Rabeya laughed innocently. “Perhaps he is somewhere in ’Hindustan’, I don’t know the location.” The touts act as local guardians of 4500 sex-workers in the GB Road. These dalals maintain good relations with the local political leaders, send ’hafta’ (regular bribes) to police stations and take care of their ’sisters’ when need arises. “They are our tarzans,” said Rabeya., while expressing gratitude to her guardian. How much do they earn, on an average, from their client, asked this scribe. “It varies”, replied Rabeya, “sometimes when dhanda is not well, we have to sell ourselves for as low as Rs 200 . But during festivals, the ’bazaar’ (market) is good. We easily earn at least Rs 1000 per night.” This is because not a single client wants to return with empty hand during the festive eves. Who comes here? “Almost everyone, you’ll find here people from different strata of society. From auto-rickshaw pullers to white-collared professionals - they enjoy us”, Rabeya replied without batting an eyelid “We have some permanent clients”, said Moly. Do the Delhities visit GB Road only? “People from different cities come here. Even the foreign nationals visit this place,” said Sabina. What are their plans for Diwali? “Nothing special, obviously, there will be heavy rush of clients during Diwali. Some of us have already been booked in advance. Some others are still waiting for good offers”, said Rabeya. Do they decorate their house with candles during Diwali? Do their children enjoy crackers? Do they wear new dresses? “Yes, we do, we light up candles, buy crackers for our children and we also wear new garments. We also distribute sweets. But after everything, we take a strong peg of whiskey and plunge into our routine life – to please men,” said Rabeya. Rabeya, Moly, Sabina, Pushpa and many others like them are actually trapped between a ’yesterday’ that would never come again and a ’tomorrow’ that they may never see!
.too sad!!!!!i hve a question ..is this our india?????
here at dis place of india v hve ram,sita like chracters nd nw it hve changed to ol dis.....wt cn i say is really bad nd v all shud help these ...nly by posting a comment is nt enough,,,,v reallyu hve to do sme fr her
.ur RS1000 is $30 in nz, $15 in USA. hia women sell their body for $200 minimum.
you have your market, did u knw people will still come if you all (make a organisation that combines all of u) if u all plan a minimum rate. people will still pay cmon atleast RS2000. makes ur life a little easier.
.Make your life to be best .Every body has a chance to be on the right way.Your future is in your hand .I'm sympatized your life.Don't devote your life in there .Try to be out
.Jung haar jana insaan ki fitrat me hai, par use fir jitne ki hunarr usi ke pass hota jo kavi haar gaya ho. Aap waha se bahar nikal kr ek nayi zindagi ki suruat kare, Hmara aashaye apke saath hai. Bass krna apko hai. you can DO.
.agar aap chahe to is gande kaam ko chodkar ek saf suthri life ji sakte ho or aap ko job bhi easily mil jayegi so think on this and be prepare to lead a good life
.aap sabhi in kaamo me kaise aaye main nahi jaanta lekin abhi bhi der nahi huyi hai in sab ko bhul kar ek nayi zindgi shuru kar sakte ho naa
god help u and i help u
.It is very painful to know all these things. Before that i have never read such thing. May God give sense to our such society to let them live like us. May God bless them.
.EVERYBODY TALKS OF BLA-2 BUT NOBODY THINK OF THESE INNOCENT GIRLS, COZ TOP PEOPLE R ENJOYNG IT & PEOPLE PEOPLE ARE USED MAY B 1 DAY SISTER N DAUGHTER OF THIS TOP CLASS FOUND HERE DOING THAN MAY BE SOME ACTION TAKEN AND LIFE OF THESE GIRL MAY CHERISH
.make their work schedule even more hectic.
These people work like anyone else but they do not have any reporting boss, month and date is no criterion for their salaries, its all instant for these women . All these girls are not as high-salaried as the call centre employees, who also work throughout the night in air-conditioned office and serve for their foreign clients. But girls like Moly, Pushpa, Sabina serve for both the Indian and foreign nationals. They say that they can������t remember who initiated them into this profession. Every night, they toil hard to please their customers so that they can get good tips after the service. They have only one identity ������ the civilised society refers to them as ������prostitutes������. these ������kothewalis������ have no fancy designations.
As the evening enters in, these ������kothewalis������ doll up in attractive sarees, salwar suits or western dresses. After being bedecked, they come out on roads or wait in the balcony to attract their clients. They prefer to wait in such places where traffic is not too thick. The clients, they say, come on their own and pick them up. After that either they are brought to a hotel, farm house or to a small ������kothas������ (rooms) in Garstin Bastion Road, commonly known as ������GB Road������, the largest red light area in Delhi. Some of the ������kothewalis������ do not have to go outside as they have thier own ������dalals������ (pimps). These pimps bring clients after proper bargaining. Even, the payments are dealt by these men.
.I wonder why men would get the service of this women and refuse to pay , it totally evil. Why are African countries and some Asian countries so backward in their thinking. Legalised this treade and protect your people. Look at the civilise world. some Asia countries and Africa always claim they are chaste, but they are poor and under develop. All this is just a lack of concern for their people. Pay the GB women When u use their service!!!!!!
I have use the service of Sex-workers in my country , I pay them their due
.Ms. Sheila Dixit is too much concious to celebrate the women's day with her minister's Mate in Delhi. does she have no knowledge of whtsgoing under her Rule even she lives at Nizamuddin and such areas are no so far from her House
Rahul
.the answer to the situation is that government should legalize this profession so that it could be monitored well..
those adult women who are willingly to be in this profession can enter (govt should monitor child prostitution) guys who are just hand to mouth and can't afford to settle down can satisfy their physical needs .. the profession will no more be a patch in society
this all stuff is very tragic........I've also read that Indians import innocent girls from bangladesh,nepal & westerners who visit india for tourism.....the prostitution of these foreginers may or is spoiing our country's image undoubtedly...wat is the government doing??
.Its a darkness where they live. They have no life and status of there own.Most dogs(Their clients) take advantage of there ignorence and poverty Mostly in INDIA and use them as they desire.It's a shameful act One (SURPRIZE TO KNOW ABT ARMY PEOPLE)should know how to control oneself.People shud come forward to shut this network as it spoils the life of a young ones.
i think sir you are married other wise you answer would have been different...even u might have been the same person at the time you were young unmarried....we know how to control but men dont want to...
.As i gone through the article my soul was shattered. The reality behind the prostitution is very heart pinching. It leaves us with many questions which have no answers.
.it was very touching....i m frm nagpur. maharastra....i have seen the situation there....i understand...there is only one word MISERABLE that suits them..girls are never native to that place...they ae send far frm there home so that they cnt even think of returning back....they have to sell their bodies at a price as low as 40 rupees only to quench the hunger of their dependent staying away frm them...........i hav seen...life of a so called prostitute....she do nt hav a phone...she always asks me for that....and d only no. she dials is her mother ...there in rajasthan..she asks..."" ma ghar me sab thik hai na, tune mangalsutra chudwa liya na"""....it melted me...i tried to cried ...i had seen pain in her eyes....and in her fake smile.
she is in ganga jamuna..famous red light area in nagpur...she is so beautiful that...i cn bet u will marry her if i show u her picture bt dont tell u that she sells
herself....
we will hav to do something... police is a bigger prostitute...it also sell itself to coruption...
.the article was indeed a true picture of the darker side of our society. It keeps open mouthed to know all these things, we all need to do something for the upliftment of these sex workers not only in delhi but also in the whole country.
."a gud article indeed" just stop it yaar.... once, at least once,think about ur moter and ur sister b4 makin flesh trade! join hands in making india,a prostitution free nation
Very pitiable..tears rolled down my cheeks while going through such pricking words..i am touched.
Government is blind to all these henious and abominable act...
.Prostitute is a very bad word but we dont think that why these girl r coming in this line,they where know who is the responsible for that...? acctuatly our dirty social is responsible for that.
how will u help them ?it's not easy u too have to struggle n result is nthing they themselves r dere 4 earning money a large money n by easiest way.....
.i want to meet every girl who staying there . try to resolve that problem . which are they facing , even they also working .. now we can do make a carrier of their children . if they live there . so u can think how would be future of their children . atleast we and government have to think about their children study.. about lots of girl ...... pl z think about them....... we are human
.Men without conscience are the users of women in such degratory manner. whatever happened to the sanctity of women, a wife, mother, sister. donts these men have any of them that they forget about them when they treat women like paper napkins. Use and throw,
.Men without conscience are the users of women in such degratory manner. whatever happened to the sanctity of women, a wife, mother, sister. donts these men have any of them that they forget about them when they treat women like paper napkins. Use and throw,
i have been fired by the organisation for which i did the report, i am jobless now, if u all can help me to earn my livelihood, i will be highly grateful to you.
.a nice article written!!! keep it up and best of luck for the future.
One thing i want to add that legally speaking prostitution is not illegal in India. Only brothels, or any act that makes arousal in public is banned and is illigal. But, nothing much can be done..but, one thing for sure could be done that will be really effective is TO BAN THE LIQUOR!!! many will debate in its against, but believe it or not, consumption of alcohol, directly or indirectly is responsible for more than 75% crime committed. and this have been proved to be true in case of Gujrat which have least crime and Alcohol is banned there.
.people often forget that prostitutes are also human......
it is a nice article which can at least improve 5% of the thinking of the people......by this article people see the other side of a prostitute , the woman side......
a woman who cant even protest in order be alive and feed her child.....i think government should do something to teach these children so that they get away from this life along with their mothers.........
.These facts are indeed disturbing n moving.well being a woman i really wonder that whether any woman would take up prostitution as her trade willingly,specially the ones who come from the depressed and marginalized section of the
society .its mere circumstances and helplessness that drive these woman into prostitution.So i feel that its not only the responsibility of the govt to free these woman from this viscous circle but we who constitute the society should also join hands to free these woman from this drudgery and provide a better living to these women.
Poverty, corruptionand inhumanity is definitely a major set back in combating this evil,but nothing is impossible when there is strong will n determination to put an end to such inhumanity.
circle , but the society also plays a very important role
.i BELIEVE GOVERNMENT (us) SHOULD GIVE THEM RESPECT IN OUR DISCUSSION, WITH OUR EYES AND HEART AND THEY SHOULD GET ALL KINDS OF FACLILITY FOR WHICH GOD HAS MADE US. WE ONLY NEED TO SUPPORTTHEM, REST NEED TO BE DONE BY THEMSELVES
.if terrorism is inhuman, how come prostitution be human? the government which allows permit license to run this red light area, wil the same government allow license if their family members are to be involved in such act? whoever visits this site, pls lets join hands to free these girls frm this kind of services.... is it humanism to taste other's sisters and mothers for self pleasure? is this what for we r earning? is this why we pray to god and go to temples, churches? we must not search anyone to help this community, we must step forward ourself to bring a change in their life....
.i think prostitution in india may be declared legalised like other countries. in this way sex workers shall lead a respectful life and they may be protected from black mailing by ln the name of law enforcement.there are so many girls, ladies who are engaged in this profession but this all is being done in the protection of police.inthis way some times many innocent customers become the victim of police.i donot think any evil ,and this all should be honoured like other profession and would generate a lot of foreign courrency and money. and tourist from all over world is easily attracted to such a type of places.examples of other countries is available where it has been legalised and there is no problem and every body is leading a luxurious life. i have personally experiensed such atype of life
.i feel pity for such women,i pray to god help those women ,try to come out from this society if possible for any one .and in next birth don't push any woman in this profession.
.Ashamed of being Human Being!!!! Such brutuality and never the less not paid by army whom we sent days salary during crisies . I will blame nobody but it's you and me who have just started these taboos in society and now we can feel sorrow for the same and can do nothing but happy to console ourself that there is nobody there from our family...........
.If one steps in their shoes until then nobody can understand their hell raising problems.Their life is full of pity and the miserable lives they lead make our hearts bleed out.They have no families,no brother's,no sister's nobody to care for them until they die.A common person just can't imagine even a single day without meeting their loved family members.I hope and wish from my heart of the heart that these women be born in one of the luxurious and industrialist families in their next birth and they lead a full fledged family life.
.But Can you people comment on one line "SHOULD PROSTITUTION BE LEAGALISED ? "
These ladies are a sort of scared of the day light and I dont think these ladies can voulenteer for any other activity for which they can be paid.
This is the only field they can earn their livelyhood...........aur uspar bhi they have to give bribes..........and TO OUR SARKAR
.its so heart rendering to even hear their plight,its shameful,a joint awareness is d saving call,the sufferers must come out to boldly put their stand forward
.Our political leaders who ruled India after independance are responsible for this. Feminists and animal lovers are working for their publicity only. Why can't we take a small step to save them from this hell and settle somewhere.
.What can a sane person coment on this.....We call ourselves civilized ,Good People...who care for our sisters ...Wives but at te same time We ( so called Society ) are only responsible for this. There condition is the result of our carelessness.
.We should kill those ppl first who bring these girl here in gb road...or in any red light area..and then we should kill all that politician & police personal who take haftas...from them...!!
.We should kill those ppl first who bring these girl here in gb road...or in any red light area..and then we should kill all that politician & police personal who take haftas...from them...!!
.I am personally thankful to these "Sex Workers" because if they are not there in bazaar, then people from different strata of society, those who visit these honourable ladies, will disturb the normal lives of the masses. I also want to visit these ladies to thank them in person but because of social fear I cannot go there. But it is a fact that the ladies leading the married life successfully must be thankful to the sex workers as the sex workers take the burden of the men on them otherwise the men visiting these ladies will ruin the life of the masses.
.the oldest profession .. i dont help myself, thinking that women have been exploited for so long .. In the article it is mentioned that people from different cities and different strata visit these places , and one thing which i can tell about these so called diverse peoples are that all of them are hypocrites they dont want to be seen with these women in the day light but more than willing to be in bed with them during night . And if u think that these peoples are the one who are providing daily earnings and per se food, cloth etc., than my friend you are wrong actually as these jackal in human skins are the one who are responsible to thrown them in this so called profession , it is not profession but it is stigma on the soul of human race and for which innocent girls are paying through there lives.
.i have written a story on a girl called razia who like moly, rabeta, sabina and pushpa does not know why she was brought here but she was sold by a dalal. but now she is at this khota from the past 4-5 years she has become a professional but when she remembers her past days she burst into tears. this she believes was not her destiny but destiny itself brought her here.they are kept like a prey in front of their clients. the clients come, chew them, eat them and go as if nothing has happened but the actual suffering in not on the part of the males but on the part of these prostiutes their day starts at night whole night they work like anything basically they are busy in keeping their clients happy this khota is their only world. and when they die no one would be their to even ask for them because at the very moment a new moly, pushpa, sabina or razia would have taken birth again for the same purpose just to serve their client.
.the oldest profession in the world ..every country has it and here we are only talking about Delhi..yes! quite right they are humans too and are providing a good service namely to the Army guys!
but wait a minute where is the infrastructure of care like most western countries where there are licenced escort agencies,brothels etc with proper social and health care ,they have unions too..why Delhi does not have an NGO to deal with the welfare of the children etc.
there are so many areas where work needs to be done ..instead of truly appreciating this article in words we should join hands with the writer to petition the govt of Delhi to dedicate an NGO to deal with this profession..the tarzans however brave they are would not be able to remedy medical,social,educational needs..good article my friend keep it up..
regards and god bless
viren naik.
.Legalise their trade and it is an ancient one >it needs protection from Police and military ppl who refuse to pay for them.Health minister should read this article.
.I'm moved by your work Somak. Brilliant. I have absolutely no words. I read all the comments here as well. I think there are a lot of good people who'd like to come together and do something about this.. Provide alternative employement to these women maybe.. Even if we leave aside the nature of trade; not being paid and no legal remedy.. it just adds to how pathetic things are. Is anybody interested in coming together and looking for a solution to this? Let's form a blog or an informal organisation and identify these women.. esp those who want to get out of it.. Also, what about the third gender? Their condition is just as bad. Let's start coming up with some sort of an answer. Our society is becoming worse than the West. We're hung in between, our sins hidden under a dark veil of culture, values and tradition shamefully mocked. At least those of us who still respect it with honesty can come forward. What do you all think?
I agree with your views. I also want to do something to eradicate this evil completely from our society. It is curse to our society. You can contact with me in somakishere@gmail.com, somak.sen@merinews.com for further progress regarding this issue.
.I have read a play by famous playwright George Bernard Shaw. Really, prostitutes are a part of society,we cant ignore them, but we do that. We are very reluctant to our society, to our fellow citizens once while we have developed ourselves. Our selfish attitude brings this ruin in our society. I as an Indian is against this flesh trade, but when we all will stand unitedly against this profession, only then this could be averted. At the same time, these girls should be given a substitute better and fair way to carry on their lives.
.Without the soil of pros land, Durga puja can't take place. In Devdas movie, I have come to know abt this fact. They ar forbidden in society, can u tell me who force them to choose this way? It is the social system that compels them to choose this way of life. They carry their lives selling themselves, their children get food and education when their mothers are sold in markets. It is shame to Indian government, who has failed to provide food, shelter and employment to all its citizens after 61 years of so called INDEPENDENCE
.this story is an answer to the so called good or civilized people who have their marks left as children at these kothas and then look at these prostitutes with shameful eyes ...when actually they are the sinners...these men r the sinners who helps in the making of a prostitute.
.This story depicts the plight of the unknown women, who are suffering because of the cruelty of the male dominated society. The brutalized women have no where to go and there is no solution to the problems faced by the sex workers, who come from unknown places and have unknown faces.
It is high time government either banned this trade or made it official, at least the sex workers could live an honourable life.
Good work.
.A brilliant piece of reporting, providing a deep insight into the life of the unlucky women who opted the profession just for winning bread. It is a harsh truth, that the bazaar is enlighten by the people from the so-called civilised society, but the sex-worker are hated by the same society. Fact is that, some people from the civilised society force the helpless women to enter into the hell and the sex-worker pay for the whole life.
.Prostitution Trade should be defined in our country with proper health care services, medical checkup every 6 months. Security and living conditions like most western and European countries have implemented. Indians are still immatured to even consider a prostitue as a respectable human being. And where is the logic to even legalize this trade and take care of these girls. IF THERE WAS NOT PROSTITUTION IN DELHI, THERE WOULD BE A RAPE CASE EVERY HOUR IN THE DARK OF THIS CITY.
.Gud work buddy,keep it up,u really try 2 shw a real face of the society,whom we dont even accpet they too blong frm our community.But is there alternative to stop this profession?I think if any othr work offrd to those who are is this profession,may be the leave this profession,but the fact is,our so called respected society kan eazly digest this naked truth.n treat them in respectable manners?This is the main point.But As i think,there is a way if we try.