by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development
by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development
by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development
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The Indian <strong>Police</strong> Journalpr<strong>of</strong>essions, but since she had no training in any <strong>of</strong> the arts, she couldnot earn a livelihood through them, <strong>and</strong> was even imprisoned, in a later she begged openly until there was famine <strong>and</strong> she could not getalms. So, she became a nurse to a child, whose gold chain she hadstolen one night <strong>and</strong> escaped <strong>and</strong> after spending that money, againbecame a procuress for a pretty young prostitute, Kalavati. 12 It revealsthe sad, tragic <strong>and</strong> pathetic plight <strong>of</strong> prostitutes in retired old age; atale <strong>of</strong> great gruesome suffering <strong>and</strong> complete lack <strong>of</strong> social security.Kuttanimattam <strong>of</strong> Damodar Gupta <strong>and</strong> Samayamatrika <strong>of</strong> Ksemendra 13 , speciallyabout the living conditions <strong>of</strong> public women. 14The courtesan-culture explained in the texts is replica <strong>of</strong> the courtesanculture <strong>of</strong> other parts <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>. 15 Accounts <strong>of</strong> source material pertainingto courtesan culture <strong>of</strong> Vanarasi, the stage <strong>of</strong> Vesya Malati <strong>and</strong> hertrainer Vikarala, a retired prostitute, <strong>and</strong> the city <strong>of</strong> Pravarapura(Singapur) <strong>of</strong> Kashmir, the playground <strong>of</strong> Vesya Kalavati <strong>and</strong> heradopted mother Glarghatika, a wanton woman. 16 Damodar Gupta,a Minister <strong>of</strong> King Jayapida <strong>of</strong> 8 th century A.D. wrote Kuttanimatam,a Kavya with a view to warn people against the exploitative ways <strong>of</strong>the prostitutes, procuresses <strong>and</strong> their accomplices. 17 It reveals that thesociety <strong>of</strong> that time was badly engrossed with the evils <strong>of</strong> prostitution.Right from the royalty to the man on the street <strong>and</strong> the agricultural upheavals <strong>and</strong> women became victims <strong>of</strong> changing social order in the9th, 10th <strong>and</strong> 12th centuries in Kashmir. 18Prostitutes were parts <strong>of</strong> royal harem <strong>and</strong> palace <strong>and</strong> many <strong>of</strong> them wererich, beautiful, highly sophisticated <strong>and</strong> well mannered. Haralata was,perhaps, one such prostitute, who committed even Sati on the death<strong>of</strong> her patron. 19 Kalhan refers to many faithful prostitutes, committingSati on the death <strong>of</strong> their masters. 20 But socio-economic condition <strong>of</strong>every prostitute was not always happy, enviable <strong>and</strong> respectable. Theywere mostly poor, petty, quarrelsome <strong>and</strong> wretched in their living as isabundantly clear from Ksemendra’s narrative. 21 His views are againstthe views <strong>of</strong> Damodar Gupta, who stated their conditions mostlycomfortable; living in colonies <strong>of</strong> prostitutes. 22 King used to appoint anSullapala, to control the affairs <strong>of</strong> prostitutes, who wasgenerally very corrupt. 23186 January - March, 2013
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