"Sex Workers of India, by Moni Nag" -- A Book review in Bengali -- by Meenakshi Datta

TfSQf  ~ UZ :

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Ag TF@@hOS

5 U 

jR @FTS AT@

FAS @-j BSU

jc B

ceU gK A UZ@

TAH Sw-j  R@ ~c qA

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TAH Sw-j  R@ ~c qA

TfSQf 

Sex Workers of India (Diversity in Practice of Prostitution and Ways of Life), by Moni Nag; Allied Publishers, New Delhi; 2006.

AU, ~Acf, SSS BA :Z cS AS ~S@ ~UOS R wcKH a A@ TScTB cO ASsA R ~TAS s-~erAv -AcK ~T Aa  Sfc | gF qA ~A@U @ jJ AaS AcSS jce cOq ~aS Aop R rAK | ~T O @A jJ gU @, gS @A J sS Sq | s dK jJ gw @S, Jq jJ ST AaS A ~O A a gF OU S, Ai@ sTS cU cA cTxv @ TAS gF sq  ia q  BS ha U j@Av A ~er |

w S ca o jq A AS @B @aS : TAH Sw | A jq AcK J Sex Workers of India cqAv AA\U ~FUq cAUr @r @aS |

: Sw@ SSBS SSgc OSS | @ J@ BS j@ SpLLAc  AsAS AS@c Xf @kU cc@f AS @B @aS -- j ~Q@p A@@U TU Xf @ jaS w   | A@a T @AvaS rS R RA TI | ~c, ~o@ wUo   ~TA@ wcKH @aS w @FASS cOq wT, ~oAS@-gF cAgk Bw ~TA@S ~Acf (~w s cU U  qAS, jZS SAvg ~TA@S)  @  BfcS R TB AS wcKH @aS | ~S@ @a J AO @UAc AcrAcFU ~oF@, sZS AAS AaUS Twv Tf @Tf |

~AT ~crF J@ AOAS OA\Ur ca cAr | sZS AAS @U@ A,jT,A,R-  cAm-^S AS @B @AaUS ZS @ |  rS sF AaU A,jT,A,R ;  ST  A, jT, A, j -- @FU@v TvAUvS FASe ~wSqBrS A@\S s @B rK U @FU@v TvAUvS gUTxv ~AAv | jZS@ qmvS TvAUvS cq, cKAc @U@ BU ASyrS cFcm--jc A@\S cmcS O AhaU | cT^f T @q ITU @AaUS, @ @a r @ T U J Zcq wU UUS, cAm ^S S cAm AcU Oq cUUS | A jT A R- Acrf AcrK ToF j@BS, @AUS , ~T ecA@ mTf sF OAaUS |  Av fWUZ cAm qgTxv AcU-j ls cFZF @ cdU mvvTFS An@ | AcUAv r U | q @ ~T TAH Sw  AO s ~B jq c wgf c^L AH a |

qBSF Zc @a @ Z MgwF Aa s w -r@ o TAH @fgc sMS@Tf R A^@ sMS AcAco @r AS @B @ OUaS -- T@Tf, dK sMS@Tf, AB, Sf c^f dK c dK c^f Sf--@Uq J wcKH ~^g | jJ A TATv@ AS  j@v ~^US AH @aS | TkU  jJ j @a, cm, ~fgc BA, TScBfcS jJ O gc--~O ~T OSgc jJ soF jA OAU | j AcK TAH Sw cq 2006 U @Ar U -- Sex Workers of India |

cCAU ToFAc TB T ~AT, s ~oAS@ Acq UAU q S @S, B^ @ TS oH wJ wa s jq r WpHF, Ok^ ~PSA@, a A@av ~@H gfAR ~a | ~T jq ~S R gfA Hm j@Av WvS cUAa |

~T j@ qeB c^ ~a, AnmvS A AU, eQ An | AcAv @A^U oS An s-@ca @U@ AaU cCAU  AwAaU, cU OU cAr cCAU | ~T cA AcS SAv j@AS OU j AO @AaU ceU jq cU : STm | ~T ST @ | ~U @ jUT | -Ac ATFAv@ ~SS rK R ASB wA OAU j ~T rc W ~U U U ~T WT gAC B @ U AS s |    ~T WAa | jTSq j@  @U@ rS ~AgsS il  wA An SwAa bA@ AAaU | ~T c^ S (An ~ AiSf) R ~AT BSq ~ AOl@ @ iUT, R  @ S-rS ~T OU^ wA @q B ZU ST sc nT @UT  ZS  coF  wA WU | An ~c@  r @AaU, T ~ g U @S ! ~T  jBS AaUT ! ~T TS AaU s cU cUF  BS O An ~SF @a jce O w AwAaUT |

j ~S@AS  cc ecA@ AUU WK AS AwAaUS  r AcZF  Uqv AAmvv @TA @B ~l ZJO Z | T Ar@ ZJO ToF JA c c @ Z ~m co @AaUT |  q r j@ -SvFrU AUU AS wUS | ZS j@ j@ @ T T j ASB Ar @a, SOa, wqa, ~S@ cr gUq SO w, @ oo U | r@ \U @a, @ @ i Aw v@ aJ Aha O^T TAv@, @ s gc cUa  gc v@ U c | @ZS J A, @ZS @@ gA, ~TS Ok^ | r@ ~Ao@erq sJ ~T cAU F U r | AUU mf @S @S cUUS, c ~T qgR jZS ~a @R | U U dK ToF Tn AUU mf R ~AT BS TAU | ~mAm ha |   AUU @v @ v@ c @ ~T cUaS, sR, Aw A j | T TS Aw v@ A c, TAv v@ AS qC c cm j@ TAU@ v@v c, AAS v S wJ c gcS |

rA^AS@S AcZF WK cerXgk, rA^c R wT gq AUU cc ceU c@A k | ceUr e@v AS j@q cc j@ @Av v@ UAaUS, ceUr U@   BSS S | cUq cUF, ~F^ ~oAS@, , ecf R ~S^T cFAL |

jq r T cF jqv@q ~T ~Ag AaU | TAH @H w @ ca ~AT  @a @ ZAa, @d @d  AO a | AcrK, jq cqAv @r T @U@  c ~SS ~AT AwAaUT, c sMS@Tf jAaUS, @ @ cpR AAaUS | j@BS ~T@ O ~ Arq jS A cUAaUS, ZS, AA |

s sMS@Tf cp A g @B d AaU AAS @U@ sMS@Tf mof@ Ug fQ cO U, c TAU T^ ATA nvA |

 R@ rNAv jZS ~^BA@gc mf@p, ceU sMS@Tf |1997 U Sgc T T Bf @S^  sMS@Tf |  g @ 4,000 aR SU, ceUr, ~TA@, qeU @ sMS@Tf jAaUS | jJ cf AaU rTBfcf TSK Ac mf@pA R, s @S @A@ rT Tq jJ  AcAST rTS @S, q rAT@ cf R sMS@Tf rN cFc Oq |

1992 U ~U qA qSAmvvFv ~c qABS ~F cAU@ U (AIIHPP) mSf A@a jS,AB,R- sAw R WHO (R\ U ~wSqBrS) jce NACO- (SFrSU jq @xvU ~wSqBrS) pK@ SwAa STD (AU v^ATv AABB) R HIV-AScH wT BSF Bv d U | AIIHPP- jAATRUAB ~oF@ : mABl BS SpL S | sMS@Tf OS q d | jJ cI S s cXo  c, AUr, UU R  AcdXo dZ J c | Bv j@v @snT U AAS@ | sMS@Tf ToF @q @Tf ~c Peer educator SR U | j,  R ~SFSF mv Tc jce TBcf  T@Q T @B @ jJ ~LTsco ~LAcr cpAXo U | STD c AIDS @ Q  wU @ST cFc coFTkU@ @ c |  BSF jJ O @ UwUS | ~w j@BS sMS@Tf @ST a Z AS AB S U cAr v@ A U@ ~SF @a s | jZS v c^ @ O jJ ewAi haS, s @ST a Z ASU co pA @ s  |

1998 U TO T jJ AXf @S^ a @U@ |

pfAv ST ATUAST TU, 2001 U |

: Sw T sMS@Tf Zc @T mha j  ~S | cqAv cr A@a T BfcS@ASf ~a | @ZS AT@, @ZS mTf, @ZS TB-r@, @ZS jTS@f cc-T j jq r iU  | @ZS T cA ~FO AU s, UU   | jv  ~B@ @ S | cqAv ZAa 1851 U 1U T AZ @U@ ec gm An@ XopA | jq An@ 29 BS sMS@Tf Ql@ S |  ToF 7 BS @UfS cQ|H@SF s Ac AS, 5 BS hOcH @m Acoc | ~ q, 1873 U qeB @ @a cATO^ OoF Av | AAS cUaS A^ T, AcrK A^ Acoc BfcS j @@, j AS: R ~^:c^f J, s ~S@ T co ASKo F fT ~AnT @ @ @ cA @ AU s coF S | A@ j@c sJ cA ~S, J ~ @SAS A S S |

~O @Tkn s XopA ~a cqAv  ZAa wAH@ @a cf R rK Sq | clS ~r wAH@ AcK cUaS : wAH@ c ^f, dHf, TUAOs, HrfU, Tomgc |  c cAXoTf, ^OAn, dAOrfU, l |  @ZS AcKu c S ~c ~FR @c S | AS^ OO @ AS @c, ~rfU, Z rN cFc @c S, wAUwUB @c S, Ugf c S, AcKwm c S ~c OUmgcR c S |

@Tkn ~ cU a, sZS s dK  wAH@Av @c ZS  sS q dKAv AAv qha, dAO, ~SgkA R OAn cI qT OU |  jTS gS @c sS Rq dKAvq  j@Tn AT@ R g sAR @S j@BS A ~@p c ~S c mofS @S crF Sq |

A-US 1917 U UZ FgU@ jAU Studies in Psychology of Sex-j XopA AaS UZ@ : 'She (a prostitute) is much more on level with people belonging to the professional classes, who accept fees in return for services rendered; the amount of fee varies on the one hand in accordance with professional standing, on the other hand in accordance with clients' means and under special circumstances may be graciously dispensed with altogether.'

FgU@ jAU AaUS qeB , (sAR F@Av @SAS) AcS qAv ~SFT oS F j@BS jce BB cS r-j c^ } sMS AcK RJ ~S@ ARA  wH @AaUS | T@AT AS T PcAS@ cq RJ UZ, jv@ AAS ~Z c ~o cU TS @SAS |

Sex Workers of India cqAv ~T@ AcrK sF @a T j@ AcU ~er AcK SS @ gc, J @Sgc  @ BSF ~wf  | j BSF TAH Sw@ oSFc | J@ A@a r @AaUT c An@  | ASO q Ql@ R U :

c : Sex worker c sMS@Tf rNAv AT cFc @a @S ? AT A@ TS @ j A@a l  c Ug  ?

TAH : ~crFq | ST ~S@ l  s | jq rNAv jZS ~^BA@gc mf@p, WHO jq ST wH @a | j jJ @Tf Ac AOA @ ha, rAT@ Ac TS SR ha |

c : AF A@ AT TS @ s jv ~SFSF rTBfcf r  USf ? jv j@v qAmv, sTS A\T, AmvU ~PSA@ S, jv j@v cFc -- disorganised, stigmatised --A@ ~PSA@ S ?

TAH : @f ~PSA@ ! cq OUa, o v@ A  @vq ~PSA@ -- @S ? ~S@ AcR  jq@T, v@ BSF Ac | jv j@v cFc, ~T ~A Rq stigmav AS | ~T T @S stigma @ AO S | dK s ZAr @ , T q mofS Oq  S A@ ? It's upto her. o j@vq TF, ^S U TF ~crFq |

c : T rF @f ? @f @ Oqa ? @S j T R ArT cF @a j-AcK wcKH @, cq AUZ ?

TAH : ~FSUABmv Ac A^@ TSK AcK ~T ~w | ~AT BA, ~Acf AS @B @Aa | Amvv AOUS R AgZA g @Aa | A@ s cOq ~cAU, TB cOq ~ victim,  U sMS@Tf | UQ UQ TSK ~Sf ~TS R @ ToF BfcS sS @a |  g 20 @ 30 UQ sMS@Tf ~a |  AS A@ A@a @ AO S ? ~^ Fv U o ? TSK  AcK OS @ ? jq s T ~^ j AS ~UOS @a, q ~AT ZAr | j  cq ~FO @a -- AUr, UU,  | j ^S @S ArQcFcm Sq, @S mU j aUT@ AS O S | j  AFq f S, A S, j BSF  @ A@a @a S | q ~AT j @B ~w co @UT |

A@av ~crF accidental | ~AT fWAS UrS @A^U @B @Aa |  rS ~ BS A@S TA@U xv  wT T ~Z AS Bv @B @AaUT, ASBS ~TA@S wcK@  ~FSUABmv Ac |  @ wUT jq, T ToF jq | 96-U cq AUZUT Sexual Behavious and AIDS in India | sMS@Tf ToFq T jq o  | A@a jS, AB, R ~T  AaU, c @Txv @ T TS @@ UT S | SSS qSAmvvrS W vv qSAmvvv ~c U ^ R c qASgAAv wUT |  rS O v@ AAaU | @U@ Oq\ qS Sf, Bv c dU Zc sF @a |

c : jq rv sA j@c ZUZAU  s ? o T cA r TAUAv sA sMS@Tf S ? U T @TS Uwc ?

TAH : TAB@gc kH wpf S UR, TB  q Sc | Acceptance S UR tolerance ~c | T sA AF AFq @SAS dK T@Q  c jgc prostitution @c S | Sf dK j@v l  @q s, equal access to sex, economic power and choice--l jZS ~S@ | jq r s ~a  ~T @a @S TF S, ~^ ethically I have no problem | ~AT R entertainer TS @A jce ~AT R c^ | ~ Acrf sA ~T@ c ~T ~r[r @S Ac c wUTU S @ U ~T @f ? sA S OFJOTAO  c TU S ~ cq U |

c : cr ~PSA@ S ? U T ASB T sA j r ~ O ZS AT @f cUc ?

TAH : ~AT ~crFq @ UZ rK @ alternative r @ AO^ @ cUc | c A@ Z SR sA  jq @@ r s O, sc | ~AT BSF @ AFw @c S | c BS , ASB qha j r Zc @T ~ | ~SSF q j j- ~ | j@c jU  ~ A  S | j@c j@ ATAvC j@ UAZ@ j ~SF r O @S @ S r @AaUS | j@Av T i JA r @AaU, ~AS cS ~T@ ~S cA @B ? ~T cq ~S@ T @ ~a s cc cA @B @ Aw @A gU@ TASc X sexually harrassed  U coF a | ~\cf T Q cA @B cr AcBS@ |

~B@U r Acr @UwU Zc OUS a, cA Bw BSF ~S@ @UwU  | Zc caq @ U@ S | ~B@U S  cFc BTBTv, @Av @Av U Zv | ~S@ Tq v @a cA Bw BSF | @U@ ~wRUf JO sMS@Tf | jJ ~cCAU, mostly accomplished muslims, co ~w @ jaS |

c : BS sTS Awr ~a -- ~T r A@ TS A@a, TS TAB@gc A@av mf@p, @ ~a, o cDBf ?

TAH : ~ cDBfq cU ~ Awrq cU, Rq sAS sMcS ~a, A@a  ~a AS |  Rq crFcpA @q OU , sexual entertainer | rlO^ cq sJ @ A J BfcS Z s S |

c : AT  dK sMS@Tf AcKR AUZa | J eZF @TS ? @f oS dK j r ~S R @ BSF ?

TAH : FJ, j @ AUZAa | j @@ @@ ~AT AOAS, qxvAg @Aa | j eZF T O ~S@ @T | Zcq wS j @B @ , T homosexuality AcK stigma, AXf qAS SU @ 377 o ~Ssf anal sex c~qAS (carnal intercourse against the order of nature) | T S, dKq -- homosexual c bisexual--j cFc @ |  A sMS@Tf SR cF T qSAAcrS Zc mve | c j@T s Sq  S, JO TU ~a | @U@  B dK sMS@Tf ~a | ABR sMS@Tf @B @ T@Tf BSF | j@Av dK sMS@Tf ~a, Ac,@T, r, ~T @U@ cA ~, cr TAB @c |  jZS peer educator |

c : kc TAU T^ @ATAv AcK A@a cU |

TAH : 1995 U DMSC d  | 1992 U SwAa Bv cqv Ac sMS@Tf Bv mv Tc  ASB em d @ | T SwAa,  AEOTceU SSS ~U | jq em j ewAi R j@cXo @a, ASB  A@av @LL QT Aa |   60Av rZ R 60,000 F a, j ToF A@a dK @Tf R ABR ~a | jv j ~Xg  R rA Aa | mmF R TSAc@ ~Ao@ Q @ BSF j j@n Uq @a |

j@c cqTU sMS@Tf w ZAv Zq/rAT@ ~Ao@ Oq rwS U Am@ AcH @AaU | ~r oZJ ST j@Av sMS@Tf j SpL AAaU | She was very courageous.. AUr, , UU  T Zq j ~gFm ; j A T d @, ASB BfcS Ac^ @ | @U@ sMS@Tf  g @S,  pAcf TSq j@ ~r Am @ QT a | j K TA\v @-~Avg Ae qAv ST A s @-~Avg @a  jZS ~FSU vSRg 9 @Av v@,  pAcf sMS@Tf cpT @-~Avg qAv | F PAS@ ~^ JOv@ c TA@ 100 v@ A  | j @UOU qeR ~a,  SO-wS-Sv@  | sMS@Tf @S^  Sv@ @a | BASg Xr jq @S^ @TUw^ rA^ ST SpFSvF @ ST @a | j j@rSU wT ~a, vAUS @^AUe ~a--~S@ A@a j @a |

Sex Workers of India cqAv LL Sq, r Sq, TUOS Sq ; F ~a, eZF ~a, AeZFS ~a | Rq T A (jce dK A) UZ@ SgkA R c^gc @S @r Sq, o j@ Bw AUZaS : J B R SgkAkH cFc  (sMS@Tf) Acm ~cAo AaU S--'they continued to be amazed' | jZS A@ TAH  c gq-j ~S | J mf @cf jce AAS j@c sMS@Tf ATAaU Zc BSF AwAaUS, il j@Av T wA BSU A J@ Z  ja,  ja ~RB U |  J@ wA @ SAT ATAaU ATU @ S |

@U@ kc ATA j@ Snf  TAH j@c ~T ~U @A AUS | TAv ~T@  qAS@ gK cUU,  j@ A TU, ~l  j@BSq, ~SSF, ~ @ jTSAv Sq | j sZS   @iU  @FT TS JA  aAc U @T BA @U, ZS jTSA@ TAHR j@v ~mAm US jce @ gc ~T@ @US   aAc sw A | T c W AU AU a  cm Z | ~AT cUUT, @S, U S aAc | TAH cUUS, S S, j  ! @cf ~c @f gc cc | vv qSAmvvFv ~c U ^ @ r @, AS q@ AcZF U @UAc cqvAS U R@ @cf ASEOq A@a TS @S S, @H jqc T J @U@ cA ~S, TAH J Z @S R  SS gATA c ~SS mf@ R c^c Am @S | ~T T ~S@@q AAS coF @S s |

J @U@ cA jTSq j@ AvAv AAS UZ@ Tr TBT@ @AaUS | Tr ~T@ cUaS s AAS swl AcAm R ~SA^ AaUS Rq c T dAOkH @UB T T B R mha^, mgAc@ cFc Z | Acc ~S^cB  jq AS j@Av c UZ Tr UZS |

Tr j@Av SF ~a j@ sMS@Tf@ AS, s Acr s @S^ sw A, ~S@ exposure  A@ rKTK  BfcS @S ~U b@ S, s ~^@  ~^@q @ s | TAH qha AS ~ j@Av SF AUZS s TAv ~^@ A ~U ~c, BfcSsXo Bf c |

TSK Ac, rAT@ Ac mf@pA Uq fW, B B ca ~SF j@AS A@ j@Av Av cq rK c S | A@ AcS cO c ~m cq | cq ~T AO^, OS cU ~S, ~ TAB@ AcS  ~ OS AcS @q | ~T OS AcS ~S j cqAvR TSq sF @c, sTS @AaU 1917 U UZ FgU@ jAU Studies in Psychology of Sex |

(c-38; Ac, 2006)

jq UZ ~S @TS UwU ?