This book takes you on a journey of discovery into the famous red light district of Shahi mohalla in Lahore. The author tells her story through the lives of people linked to the Shahi mohalla: the prostitutes with their pimps, managers and customers, as well as the musicians and others. Most of these people are struggling to make a living by following ancient traditions, without knowing clearly where they fit in the larger picture of present day society. The traditional practice of prostitution in South Asia has always been closely linked with music and dance performances. Through their stories, the book also highlights the contributions that these people have made to our society and to the world of the performing arts. Pakistani society has created and reinforced many myths to explain why prostitution has nothing to do with ‘nice people’. These myths put all the blame on ‘immoral’ woman who are responsible for tricking ‘honest’ men into sinful acts. Our society has also strongly discouraged anyone from questioning these myths. By exposing our myths about prostitution, the book helps eradicate a blind spot in our understanding of power relations experienced by all women throughout our society.
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