Prostitution In Ancient India

Prostitution is one of the oldest profession practiced in the world since the emergence of an organized society. It has been practiced in all the countries but different countries have different laws regarding prostitution. Vedas are the earliest known Indian literature where there are references which shows that prostitution was an organised and established institution. In Indian mythology there are many references of high-class prostitution in the form of celestial demigods acting as prostitutes. They were referred to as Menaka, Rambha, Urvashi, and Thilothamma . They were described as the perfect incarnation or personification and had incomparable beauty and feminine traits. They were perfectly trained in dance and music. Their aim work …show more content…
Kumbhadasi were the lower class prostitute women who would be housemaid and would sexually gratify the houselord. Rupajiva were the women who were higher in hierarcy extending from housemaid to professional dancers. Ganika were the women who acquired a high seat of honour which was accomplished by them through their charm, beauty and intellectual level. Ganikas were knowledgeable in several arts, educated, and held a high honour by the King. Prostitutes in ancient India were treated just as a government servant, were free to form relations, had a fixed salary given by the King, she transferred her earnings from customers to the treasury which was under the charge of a Minister, and was provided and it was provided to her in old age. Since she would not marry, even though her property would be inherited by her daughters or …show more content…
The position of women worsened during the British regime. They had their own conception of how terribly prostitute women lived and how undignified their profession was considered, in Britain. Without even trying to understand the position of prostitutes in India, they oppressed prostitute women to satisfy the “natural sexual desires” of the British people. They used their concept of “superiority of their race” to gain control over women’s body. They institutionalized this profession of prostitution through the state, and it was achieved by opening several state-run brothels, predominantly in the Cantonment areas where they were called chaklas. In the chaklas, these women were treated as incarcerated; they were abused, both physically and sexually by the soldiers. They were also fined and imprisonment. Condescending prostitutes through the Contagious Disease Act in 1868, gave the British far-reaching control of Indian minds to invoke morality with respect to women’s sexuality. State received the power from the legislation to recognize and register prostitutes in the region and inspect them for venereal diseases. This led to compulsory and insulting checks, of prostitutes until “cured”, were locked in hospitals for months or more. Public opinion is generally determined by their experiences or observations. Once the chances