Why Indian Courtesans Were Stigmatized as Prostitutes

Set in the 1940s, at a time when an independence movement is striving to free India from colonial rule by the British Empire, the Netflix series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar tells of the lives, entanglements and fate of courtesans in the bazaar and red light district of Lahore, also known as Heera Mandi, as a popular uprising brews.
But how much truth is there in the series created by a successful Bollywood director (Sanjay Leela Bhansali)?
In today's India and Pakistan, the true story of the Indian courtesans (the so-called taiwafs), who were once highly respected in the courts of the nobility, has been forgotten. Worse still, the courtesans are nowadays reviled as prostitutes. Did they really fight as freedom fighters against the British? Were they deliberately deprived of their powerful position in Indian society at the time by the British - their reputation desecrated in order to suppress the threat they posed?
Or were the taiwafs never anything other than prostitutes in the courts of Indian kings?
#dwhistoryandculture #heeramandi
For more visit: www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441
⮞ Follow DW Culture on Facebook: / dw.culture
⮞ Follow DW Culture on Twitter: DW_Culture
Please follow DW's netiquette: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

These women are the custodians of Bharat culture. They fiercely preserved several classical art forms. If you want to really know, who Tawaifs were, watch "Manjari Chaturvedi | The Uncharted History Of India's Tawaifs | At Algebra". The british confiscated the properties of successful transgender women too and banned them.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks so much for sharing! Very interesting insight.

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

We had Devdasis in South India. The famous celestial Carnatic singer, MS Subbhalakshmi belonged to the family of Devdasis, who was married off to a Brahmin family. They preserved Bharatnatayam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and other several art forms.

[@ambroseaarondavid9677]

I don't think kuchipudi was a devadasi performed art.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing.

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

@@ambroseaarondavid9677 Who were the dancers of Kuchipudi?

[@user-po3ko9yb5w]

Like with so many cultural traditions, outsiders came and made it into something it never was. Time to embrace the truth and break the shackles once and for all

[@ssmot113]

Those who claim to be "thekadars of culture" are themselves a product of Victorian prudish ideology.

[@Kun_The_Beginning]

Thank you for talking about it 🙌🏾🙏🏽

[@hattafayub7231]

Excellent work

[@LuizFelipe-lk1hs]

There's something going on with that blue screen behind the reporter, not a big fan. Still thanks for the video!

[@AlisonBurgers40]

In the corner up there is the option give excess to you for changing the Background Screen and it's Colors So you can make it Purple Indigo Yellow Burgundy etc 🙏

[@LuizFelipe-lk1hs]

@@AlisonBurgers40 I don't have this feature on my youtube, might be a regional thing they didn't add to where I am. Still, I appreciate the help.

[@AlisonBurgers40]

@@LuizFelipe-lk1hs So 😐 Sorry 🙏🙏🙏Mr Luiz Felipe I just forgot the most important sentence at the end of my previous Comment and that sentence is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I was Just Kidding )😜🤣😂 please don't get upset 🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰❤️❤️❤️

[@AlisonBurgers40]

@@LuizFelipe-lk1hs So Sorry 🙏🙏🙏❤️🥰🙏🙏

[@er...]

I can't help being reminded of the late Edward Said's _Orientalism_ in this context.

[@LoneWulf278]

Same here.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

So true! Very fitting in for this topic.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter!

[@er...]

@@DWHistoryandCulture 👍

[@paranoah8550]

Manjari Chaturvedi has a lot of insight into this topic. Her Courtesan Project has tried to correct this perception

[@henaimtiyaz4189]

Why not make a movie if you want to bring the real life of them to the forefront? At least now people have a picture even if its vague of the struggle of these women. Address the issue if you are worried.

[@miriamzajfman4305]

Were they like the Japanese Geishas ?

[@nilavanathi7336]

Seems more like Oiran than geisha

[@ssmot113]

​@@nilavanathi7336I think it's like Geishas. Aren't Oirans more ancient, and more suitable to aristocratic rituals? Tawaifs were more accessible unlike Oirans, I think.

[@hjad2625]

@@ssmot113 they were courtesans who only kings and nobility had access to

[@reginafefifofina]

3:27 I thought it had something to do with the Kama sutra or Tantra?

[@reginafefifofina]

1:01 how is it different than geisha? Doesn’t every culture have a version? …and while women are stigmatized- what’s up with the men who create the demand?

[@drodro7672]

Ringnoses are also "haram" according to some Islamic interpretations. So it can be the "hidden" truth behind your mom reaction about it. Association of that jewellery with a socially despised community can automatically refrain its widespread among "orthodox" or religious muslim women.
In India, ringnose is whatever its status in Islam, popular among traditional muslim women. Don't know what's the practices around it in Pakistan.

[@user-ic7zz4tv1s]

Yet another veiled attack on Indian culture and heritage by DW using a Pak journalism. Amazing. This true journalism 😂

[@hhhui6352]

how is this an attack on indian culture and heritage? it talks about the history facts and statistics please try to accept the truth babe not every part of indian culture is beautiful