Prostitution in the whole world is etched in our history. Even in India courtesan life is not so puerile concept in India. As per the ancient records of India, Brothels existed during the reign of Dhanananda, king of the Nanda dynasty 329 BCE, forceful prostitution was employed. Even Chanakya, a great political economist of history mentions about Vishkanyas. The selected women were given daily proportions of poison in their food so as to make them immune to it. These women would gradually become prostitutes, used to kill the members of regal house. Prostitutes in history had the royal importance of being dancers to concubines even as a weapon. During the period of Mughal empire in India, Courtesans popularly known as Tawaifs gained the reverence of being royal prostitutes. Prostitution was not a grave social horror as it is in the present time. It was considered one of the respected works because of its royal importance.
Ages of exploitation is still continued. Southern Indian history tells us about prominence of the Devadasi system . Devadasis are basically the servants of the god, who will maintain celibacy to serve the god all throughout their life. But over time, Devadasi concept changed. They became the servants of people who will never marry and be prostitutes by force. Their kids will also be gradually pulled into this system. An incident was recorded, a devadasi within minutes of becoming one was stripped off. It gained the attention of the lawmakers and soon it was banned. Even after its ban devadasis work in Southern India for mere 5-10 rupees.
Indian law in this matter is very ambiguous as it allows private prostitution in secrecy and bans running brothels. Till recently Prostitutes did not have any identity, they were denied identifications such as Aadhar cards, and they were not given subsidized food grains despite their fragile economic conditions. Covid times and lockdown crippled their income and pushed them to severe hardships and starvation. But now slowly the system is changing and moving forward yet, social equality for prostitutes is the farthest goal to achieve.
They are usually stereotyped, discriminated and denied human rights without considering the facts why they moved onto that profession. Usually, girl child of a prostitute because of societal pressure not having social access to any other forms of employment, will carry on the hereditary profession of a prostitute. This vicious cycle will hinder them from their basic human rights and right to live a dignified life.
This Cycle of exploitation could only be corrected with the proper law and order. If employment, social inclusion, and equality are assured to every human, no one will suffer from oppression.
More than any profession, "humanity matters!"