Prostitution in India

Prostitution यानि वेश्यावृति। अरे नाक-मुँह सिकोड़ने और भौंहें चढ़ाने से पहले यह भी याद रखिये की काम-सूत्र भी हमारी ही उपज है तो कुछ वेश्यावृति के बारे में भी पढ़ते जाइये।

बहुत कम उल्लेख मिलता है वेदों-पुराणों में। Reason for omission could be negligible instances or maybe उसका लिखना उचित न लगा हो उस समय के हिसाब से। लेकिन शिव पुराण में महानंदा का ज़िक्र है जो की आदिकाल में कश्मीर के नंदीग्राम में रहती थी और भगवन शिव की बहुत बड़ी भक्त थी। She had different principles. She used to remain faithful to any customer as if she were his wife. Her devotion to her man would be so strong that not even Indra could waver her resolve even with his immense charm. बताओ स्वर्ग में अप्सराएँ थी फिर भी धरती की वेश्या पर नज़र। और हाँ भगवान शिव ने सामाजिक कल्याण के लिए महानंदा के साथ भी रहे थे। हे भगवन अब धर्म खतरे में है।

छोडो, अहिल्या याद है न रामायण में? Actually, it was Indra who have stooped to the heinous level of seducing the wife of a sage and she knowingly and willingly committed the sin. आ गयी न वही बात हर बार औरत की गलती थी। Her husband Gautama cursed Indra and as a result of which he lost both his testicles. अभी तो बलात्कार करने वाले को भी कोई सज़ा नहीं होती। इसी तरह hindu mythology speaks of adultery here and there. Commencing with Maharishi Parasara, of late prostitution has become a novelty as part of civilization or for making out a living by the helpless women.

In today's time there's no question of a prostitute being loyal to one. But exceptions can be found among देवदासी of yesteryears'. In ancient times, रईसों के लिए "नगरवधू" होती थी and today we have Bar-Girls. Prostitution has also been theme in Indian literature and arts for centuries. There's a ten-act play as "Mrichakatika" in Sanskrit written by Shudraka in 2nd century BC. It tells about a courtesan "Vasantsena" and later Bollywood remade it as "Utsav". Similarly in "Vaishali ki Nagarwadhu" we find "Amrapali" a courtesan, written by Acharya Chatursen. This was again retold by Bollywood as "Amrapali" in 1966. बताओ हमारा इतिहास ही रहा है औरतों को भोग की वस्तु समझने का।

Since charity do not begins at home and Mother Teresa is just an idol, nowadays prostitution is profession, whether you sleep for money or for favor/promotions. In parts of Bengal, there's Chokri system, whereby a female is coerced into prostitution to pay off debts. In this system the prostitute works without pay for a year or longer. Consequently, children of sex workers are much more likely to get involved into this profession.

औरत तेरी यही है कहानी...
या तो भोग नही तो नौकरानी...

Content: Abhilekh Dwivedi