History of Prostitution in Calcutta: A Review

Prostitution is an oldest stigmatized profession. Poor economy, gender biasedness and patriarchal system push the women of different background into this trade. It has a long history and in every stratified society the prostitution exists. It is till an alive profession when the feminist movements towards equity and justice of women are in action. However, however, the present paper was an attempt to explore the historical base of prostitution in Calcutta, only Metro City of Eastern India. For this purpose, the method used here consists first breaking down the profession as its existed into its different constituent elements, and then resembling it. It was explored through unearthed important repositories of confidential official policy decisions, records in contemporary newspapers, and journals, and travelogues and reminiscences of both British and Bengal observers. An analysis of these records was done to draw the historical base of this profession. The prostitution started its journey from pre-colonial era and it was reshaped during British rule. After independence of India, the profession girls trafficking are till continuing in diverse forms. It is an alternative economy for the women/girls dominated by backward and Muslim who are victims of poor economy, gender baisedness and patriarchal system. 

Keywords:
Calcutta, Colonial India, History of prostitution, Women of backward community