Page 12 - August 2020 Digital

COVER STORY PAGE #2

During her reign, the red-light area was one of the
most prosperous lanes as it had rich and powerful
clients not to mention a steady stream of earnings
from the underworld. So much so that Gangu
would often wear sarees with golden borders and
blouses with golden buttons.

Gangubai slowly rose to power through her links
with the Mumbai underworld. She maintained
and operated many brothels in the red light
district of the city, ultimately earning herself the
name, ‘Madam of Kamathipura’. She rode in
a black Bentley, the only brothel owner to have
one in those times.

However, Gangubai never kept a girl in the brothel
against her consent. She also dedicated her
life to the betterment of sex-works and orphans.
She even led the movement against the removal
of Mumbai’s prostitute market at the same time.
Even today, the statue of Gangubai is installed in
Kamathipura, Mumbai.

Because of her ordeal, Gangubai was compassionate
towards other women from the community. She used
her influence to champion the rights of sex workers and
their empowerment and affirmed that her job didn’t
authorize anyone to violate her. Reportedly,
she even requested then-Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru to address
difficulties encountered
by sex workers. Her
attempts to better the
living conditions in
Kamathipura won
her respect from
the community.

DesiPages DFW | August 2020 VOL 18 | 12