"Breaking the Glass Ceiling: How Women Are Finding Their Voice in a 'Lost in Translation' World"

  Picture a world where love transcends all boundaries, where relationships are not confined to societal norms and expectations. In this world, courtesans were trailblazers, breaking free from the constraints of conservative Indian society and embracing their sexual freedom. For these women, sexuality was not something to be hidden or denied, but rather celebrated and enjoyed. They understood that human desire is a natural and powerful force, and they embraced it fully. Whether with men or women, their physical and emotional relationships were marked by passion, intimacy, and mutual respect. They referred to themselves as "chapat baz" or lesbians, and used terms such as "chapti", "chipti", or "chapat bazi" to describe lesbianism. Interestingly, these women attached little importance to labels and made no verbal distinctions between homosexual and heterosexual relations. They explained that emotions and acts of love are gender-free. Words such a...

The fascinating evolution of gender roles in India's courtesans is a story of both captivation and transformation. For centuries, courtesans have been the captivating embodiment of femininity, yet their role has been far more than just beauty and sensuality. From their beginning as high-class entertainers and educators in ancient India, to their modern-day status as passionate performers and powerful influencers, courtesans have been a vital part of Indian culture. Tracing their history, we can see how courtesans have evolved in terms of their gender roles. In ancient India, courtesans were seen as the ideal types of women; they were educated, respected and even powerful. They were seen as symbols of independence and liberation, and were often the only women with the right to own property, inherit money and choose their own husbands. In 1856, the British forcibly usurped the Kingdom of Awadh and exiled its king and courtiers, abruptly ending royal patronage for courtesans and signa...

  Mohe panghat pe nandlal chhed gayo re....  (Krishna teased me at the river bank and left...)    As I walked down the path, "Mohe Panghat Pe" played in my ears - a soothing melody that filled my heart with joy. The beauty of the song and the peacefulness of the surroundings brought a smile to my face as I strolled along. It was the perfect accompaniment to my evening walk, and one I will not soon forget. But do you know that this classic thumri, "Mohe Panghat Pe," was recorded by a tawaif, Indubala. It reminds us of the timelessness of music and also the fact that we have taken their (tawaif) music and their dances without giving them the acknowledgement and respect they deserve.  As you read, I have endeavored to highlight the invaluable contributions of the tawaifs to Indian culture. The glamorized version of courtesans often portrayed in Bollywood movies gives us a romanticized view of their lives. But the reality is far from this picture-perfect representat...

I was pondering, as I often do, and I had an interesting thought: Could every woman in today's world be seen as a courtesan? Could it be that the traditional notions of courtesans have evolved to reflect changing societal norms and expectations? It's certainly an intriguing thought. An exploration of the history and culture of courtesans in India reveals a complex, nuanced story of female empowerment and strength. Courtesans were seen as sexually liberated women, often seen as the most free-thinking and independent women in Indian society. They challenged traditional gender roles and enjoyed a status that was far higher than that of other women of the same social class. Through their art, music, and dance, they were able to acquire wealth and independence. But is it fair to call them the most feminist women in India? Courtesans were seen as sexually liberated women, often seen as the most free-thinking and independent women ( A fascist man who is still attached to outdated idea...

In the age of dating apps, where finding love is just a matter of a few swipes, the emotion seems to have lost its worth. Like someone? Swipe right. Don't like someone? Swipe left. Don't like the person you liked earlier? Start swiping again. It's as simple as that and it's as messed up as that, which is precisely why modern love stories have lost their charm.  So, in the time of swipes, don't you want to remember the love that was?  When you saw someone and actually thought "zindagi dhoop tum ghana saaya" ?  Mohabbat hai, toh kya hai? For centuries, tawaifs (courtesans) have been an integral part of South Asian culture, often embodying the perfect mixture of beauty, wit and cunning. I have discovered some stories of tawaifs that leave behind a legacy of love, loyalty, compassion and dedication. From the tragic story of Zia Azeemabaadi, who willingly sacrificed her life for the love of her life, to the selfless act of Saabra, who gave up her wealth to sav...

  "All people are not poets, but all poets have a love affair with life. If poetry is a love affair with life, which it is, then the poets must have a beloved..." In some cases, poets have had more than one beloved. This made them and their poetry amazingly curious and curiously amazing. To think of love and life is to think of Ghalib the lover and Ghalib the beloved. A glimpse……… The courtesans of Awadh, also known as tawaif or nautch-girls, were famed for their beauty and talent. The word can be taken to mean a prostitute, but the women involved were much more than that. As eminent historian Veena Talwar Oldenberg writes in Places of Performance: The Mughal Court and the Culture of a Northern Indian City 1550-1750 (1997), "Nearly all the women are known by their first names, indicating that they were not anonymous commodities but had individual personalities." The celebrated poet Ghalib was said to have composed many of his verses on the most beautiful amo...

Have you ever felt so lost in life that you just stopped in your tracks and let the world go by? That's how I felt when I first heard "Chalte Chalte Yun Hi Koi Mil Gaya Tha." It's a song about finding yourself, and it spoke to me in a way no other song ever has. So, if you have not heard this song yet, listen to it before the world collapses. It is never too late!   Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah is something about telling the story of a woman whose whole life was wrapped up in performing, it only works if the film itself is the whole life of the woman who is starring in it? Pakeezah was Meena Kumari’s whole life, for years. Meena is not your average Tawaif. When love comes to her, she does not rush out of her safe life into the unknown. She stays and waits. Most of the plot is about the essence of intezaar.   Even when Rajkummar attempts to marry her, she resists. On my first watch, I was irritated by her for running away simply because he was concerned about the sh...