Kamathipura

Coordinates: 18°58′N 72°49′E / 18.96°N 72.82°E / 18.96; 72.82
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Kamathipura
Kamthipura
Neighbourhood in
UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationMH-01

Kamathipura (also spelled Kamthipura)

AIDS and government's redevelopment policy that helped sex workers to move out of the profession and subsequently out of Kamathipura, the number of sex workers in the area has dwindled.[2] In 1992, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recorded there were 45,000 sex workers here which was reduced to 1,600 in 2009[3] and 500 in 2018.[4] Many sex workers have migrated to other areas in Maharashtra with real estate developers taking over the high-priced real estate. In 2018 the Maharashtra government sought tenders to demolish and redevelop the area.[4]

History

seven islands of Mumbai
, before the 17th century

The ground floors open directly onto the road like native shops. In their lower and upper rooms, native women call to male passers-by.

- A visiting Christian missionary in late 19th century [5]

Kamathipura area in map of Mumbai, 1924

Before the completion of the

seven islands of Mumbai under William Hornby, governor of Bombay (1771-1784), plugged the Great Breach in Mahalaxmi, while the subsequent Bellasis Road causeway joined Mazagaon and Malabar Hill in 1793. This resulted in several low-lying marshy areas of Mumbai Flats like Byculla, Tardeo, Mahalaxmi and Kamathipura opening up for habitation. Thereafter starting 1795, Kamathis (workers) of other areas of the country, working as labourers on construction sites began settling here, giving the area its present name. It was bounded by Bellasis Road on the north, by Gaodevi on the south and the main road across, Falkland Road.[5][6] At one point during this period it was home to a Chinese community, which worked as dockhands and ran restaurants. By the late 19th century it all changed.[3]

Till then, as previous 1864 Census figures for Mumbai indicate, other areas had a larger population of prostitutes, like

venereal disease clinic of Bombay was opened in 1916, being taken over by BMC in 1925. Nearby, Bachchuseth ki Wadi on Foras Road was famous for its kothewalis or tawaifs and mujras.[3]

When India gained independence, Indian sex workers moved into the area. In recent decades, large numbers of Nepalese women and girls have also been trafficked into the district.[10] Over the years under Indian government rule, the sex industry in Kamathipura continued to flourish. Trafficking and economic circumstances also brought women from different parts of the country there. Eventually it became Asia's largest sex district.[11]

The brothels in the area are crowded. Sex workers wait outside to pick up customers and then rent an available bed. The estimated 3,000 buildings in the area are largely dilapidated; safe drinking water and sanitation is scarce as well.[12]

Some historical sources point out[

Mumbai underworld, such as Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, and Dawood Ibrahim.[3]

The 2005 statewide ban on

dance bars resulted in many former female dancers resorting to prostitution in Mumbai's red-light districts in order to survive. According to police, in 2005, there were 100,000 prostitutes working out of five-star hotels and brothels across Mumbai.[13]

The area is also home to a small cottage industry of about 200 women who make a living rolling beedis (hand-rolled Indian cigarette).[12]

Demographics

Kamathipura is divided into roughly 14 lanes and divided according to regional backgrounds of the workers. Most of the workers come from other Indian states.[14] There is little interaction between areas, which makes it harder for social organizations to organize them into a movement or union. Further, lack of public opinion, political leadership or social activism which is empathetic towards them means a tough time forming unions.[11]

The area had 55,936 voters in 2007.[12]

Image gallery

See also

Notes

  1. ^ name=toi2009
  2. ^ "Beyond brothels: How real estate and online sites are changing red light areas". 29 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Red light district swaps sin for skyscrapers". The Times of India. 28 November 2009. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013.
  4. ^ a b Kamath, Naresh (6 January 2018). "Maharashtra government pushes for revamp of Mumbai's Kamathipura area". www.hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Kamathipura". Mumbai Pages.
  6. ^ "Bellasis Road". Mumbai Pages, TIFR. 22 July 1997.
  7. ^ Tambe, p. 62
  8. S2CID 146273713
    .
  9. S2CID 144250345
    .
  10. YouTube
  11. ^ a b Karandikar, p. 17
  12. ^
    DNA
    . 25 January 2007.
  13. ^ Watson, Paul (26 March 2006). "Prostitution beckons India's former bar girls". San Francisco Chronicle.
  14. ^ "Dancing in the dark". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 20 July 2013.

References

External links

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