No Ground Beneath Their Feet

Versey,

You must admit to yourself that you are better in descriptive narrative than trying to analyse them.

`The biggest problem was: how do you ask a five-year-old what prostitution is?`

Why can`t you bring yourself to explaining the situation in a cold manner? Do emotions get in the way? Have you resolved the situation in a calculated manner in your own head? Do you need HP to explain it to you since you won`t listen to kaka?

`That they managed to even articulate anything was amazing.`

Why would you say that? How can `knowing` that their mothers are getting invaded in her privates, control their articulation. These are the stigmas of a middle-class mentality. In some ways, that is the source of most angst..

a courageous moving piece -- Farzana at her best penwomanship -- bravo!

a couragous moving piece -- Farzana at her best penwomanship -- bravo!

Farzana:

You should make a documentary out of it. If you are interested, I can consider financing such a documentary, and distribution.

Anil

Re: # 7 by Urstruly,

Urstruly sahib,

You say:

``I don`t know what to think about their causes anymore because they keep on confusing me. ``

I say:

``Try a bit harder to understand.``

Urstruly etc.,

The article, as far as I understand is not so much about prostitutes but about the children of prostitutes. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that these children did not choose their parents. Yes, some of the prostitutes may have chosen to have children (as the article notes) but the rationale behind this choice (as mentioned in the article) is not very different from that of other mothers. Or fathers for that matter. The article provides a peek at the emotional lives of children born to poor prostitutes. The author, as well as readers, may feel sad that they do not have a `home`. However, the author has not rushed ahead and offered a solution. If we readers are to discuss a solution to ease our `pain` then let me start by asserting that blaming and banning prostitution is not the solution. It has not worked for centuries. Furthermore, I absolutely fail to understand why a prostitute should not pay income tax, get social security, etc. Why shouldn`t the client pay value added sales tax which, amongst other things, can be used to fund medical insurance for prostitutes and their families. It is a trade for heaven`s sake. We know that such trade exists. Who are we fooling by not recognising this trade? If you want to restrict such trades, then recognize it first as a trade and then tax it. Stop this blame game and holier than thou attitude. It only increases misery.

very furtively written, and please write more, this is good, real, experience writing.

what is their relationship with other women? some of the brothels of bombay are run on the basis of villages where the women come from..e.g. there are aunties who run houses with women from villages in north karnataka. do the kids in these ``homes`` feel more secure or rooted?

lamington rd has several brothels which share naighbor-spaces with electronics merchants and their store-rooms. in early evening (when rest of the market is still alive and before the serious dhanda-time begins) you can see the women with their kids do aarti-puja in their living rooms and watch their favorite TV serials..it looks almost a normal house except with a lot of women.

FarzanaVersey {``They have nowhere to go. Only a mother to call their own. But even their mothers have too many men to cater too. ‘Fathers’ who keep coming in and out of the mother’s room as the children sit back and watch life being played out. They can call none of these men their father. No man will take the child away from here to lead them into the sunlight, the bright world where other children live.``}

Farzana,
Yet again your versatility and creativity has depressingly captured the fact that prostitution is NOT a victimless crime. After reading this article, who can defend prostitution as a God-given right for women? While not pleasant reading, your article has masterfully brought to life the daily tragedies in these young lives. The plight of the children and the helplessness of the women as they become trapped in this cruel and vicious cycle are extremely sad. I once saw a documentary about the children of prostitutes in India and how this curse affected their young tender lives in a very corroding and harsh manner. I think that this article captures the atmosphere of the debris found in places such as Grant Road and Tijuana. Beautifully written and presented with great sensitivity. Thanks.

Re: # 5 Faruk Sahib

I have tried it many times and got the same result. I have asked many western and eastern feminnists who promote prostitution as `an un-alienable right of a woman` as to what their own going rate is and everytime they turn into vicious cats. One time it really hurt me but I had to do it when I asked such a feminist as to when was she sending her 5 year old daughter to the Hira Mandi for schooling but she replied in some kind words about the woman of my household. I don`t know what to think about their causes anymore because they keep on confusing me.

#5 faruk you touch upon a sensitive topic and spot. I wait to see the answer

Very sad, I admit that I almost gave up reading this article half-way thorough as it was so touching and I rellay don`t need more emotions in my life presently.

But what can we do?

We can all talk about it and feel sentimental. Yet there is nothing that can be done about this unless it comes from top echeleons of the society. Maybe Govt should take over these people and rehabiltate them in real sense, not like Nari Niketans and Anath Ashrams.

Sad article indeed.

Good Job Farzana for covering this.

Re: Urstruly#1

“In my short life span and living in different cultures what I have found to be the common across the board is the fact that woman is the worst enemy of other woman - whether it is saas bahu, nand bhawaj, boardroom, bedroom, international forum or.....just fill in the blank.”

You have a valid point there, although I am not sure how its related to the article.
But what about the women’s lib movement.


What’s your opinion on lesbian relationships?

Regards,


Faruk

Farzana,
Very well written.

Regards,

Faruk

FV,

A very sensitive portrayal. You have this ability to paint a scene with sounds, smells and touch. Much of what you write is true.

Having said that, it has been my observation that although forced prostitution or that due to extreme poverty exists, still much of it is voluntary. Particularly in affluent societies, it is entirely a matter of choice. Even in socieities like ours, the profession runs through generations and more often than not it is the mother who sets the career for the daughters when they are old enough to claim the prized `nath uterwai`.

I have often wondered if having to scrub floors to avoid this life was too hard?

FV
Humbling article, must read it again, more thoroughly.

[Their role medals are like those of any other child – doctor, police officer – but for different reasons.]
``Medals`` or ``models``? Purposely or inadvertently??

As far as I know it is a global feminist agenda to promote that prostitution is an unalienable right of a woman. They made it very clear in the Beijing 2000 conference and demanded that this point must be included in the United Nation`s charter of human rights; where they demanded that prostitution be considered as any other profession with health care benefits and pension plan etc. Thanks to Americans that they have made UN a defunct institution and West in general who is busy re-defining the role of its women after they started the new crusades, otherwise they would have gotten away with it by now.

In my short life span and living in different cultures what I have found to be the common across the board is the fact that woman is the worst enemy of other woman - whether it is saas bahu, nand bhawaj, boardroom, bedroom, international forum or.....just fill in the blank.