Kotha-Tawaif-Mujra

‘Tawaif’-s were courtesans who entertained the aristocracy. Young girls, who were often abducted, were trained in the arts of classical music, dance, literature and poetry. They were highly refined women who epitomised etiquette and young noblemen were often sent to them for an exposure to the arts and finer aspects of life. Since they were a part of the feudal system of Northern India and received patronage from the rich, they became an institution in their own right and commanded great respect in that society. They lived in lavish quarters that were known as ‘kotha’ and their performance was termed as ‘mujra’. The system of ‘kotha-tawaif-mujra’ thrived during the Mughal era.

Such was their training in music and poetry that the ‘kotha’-s became the birthplace to some exemplary contributions to the fields of music, especially to the semi-classical forms of ‘thumri’ and ‘ghazal’.

Sex was never obligatory in the relationship between the nobleman and the ‘tawaif’ and it was her privilege and prerogative to define the boundaries and lay down the rules of the relationship, though, unfortunately, at times the matters of the heart came in the way!  Often, it was she who decided who she would entertain.

During the freedom struggle, the ‘kotha’-s became meeting places where conspiracies were hatched; the ‘kotha’-s were taken over by the British and the ‘tawaif’-s were branded as prostitutes. Since many of the kothas were situated in the Lucknow-Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, the annexation of these regions by the British lead to the decline in patronage sounding the death knell  of the institution…

This beautiful song from the movie Umrao Jaan, (based on the life of a famous ‘tawaif’ Umrao Jaan Ada) is composed in Raga Bhoopali and rendered by Asha Bhonsle.

…is sham-e-faroza ko aandhi is darate ho..

(you make this luminous candle fear the storm..)