Bollywood has always been exceptionally popular in India. But, with the coming of several OTT platforms, the Hindi film industry has succeeded in producing meaningful cinema. Recently, a web series called Heeramandi: The Diamond Market was released on Netflix.

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, an Indian filmmaker, producer, and music composer, Heeramandi is focused on unfolding the truth about the lives of the tawaifs. Over the years, history has been twisted and turned to present a distorted image of the lives of these royal courtesans. Often known as the hub of prostitution, the majestic history of Heermandi claims to be otherwise.

The Real History

Heeramandi, popularly known as the Shahi Mohala or the Royal Neighbourhood, was originally established as a grain market by the Sikh Dynasty's Chief Minister Heera Singh Dogra. Historically, India was ruled by innumerable major and minor empires. In the 17th century, the Mughals dominated the Indian subcontinent.

It was at this time that skilled courtesans were brought, sometimes from outside India, to entertain and amuse the rulers. Later, during the reign of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, this place was titled Heeramandi (The Diamond Market)ad.

Attributed to Nihal Chand from Wikimedia Commons

The tawaifs were trained in fine arts; they were poets, dancers, singers, and intellectual women and the Diamond Market was a highly reputed place. In fact, the Nawabs (royals) would send their children to the tawaifs to master etiquette and inculcate powerful mannerisms. At the height of their prominence, tawaifs were considered a symbol of culture, wealth, and sophistication. So how did we come to know of them as we do today?

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Influence of the British

The power and influence of the tawaifs was a potent threat to the British who had come to loot the subcontinent of India. The supremacy of these courtesans was evident from the fact that some of them were among the highest taxpayers in the country at that time. Not only this, but they also financially aided the Indian struggle for freedom.

Their kothas(the place of residence) were used to shelter the Indian rebels. The British colonial government could not bear to see this and aimed to weaken the powerful influence of the tawaifs by introducing laws that reduced their work essentiality to prostitution. When the British Raj came to power in this region, Christian Missionaries asked for the Heera Mandi to be removed. They thought the activities there were 'sinful'. The British government tried to move it, but they were forced to redo their attempts because the common citizens did not like this idea. Gradually the tawaifs lost their prominence and hold on the society.

www.livemint.com from Wikimedia Commons

The Present-day Shahi Mohala

Even after the partition of India and Pakistan, in 1947, Heeramandi went on as before. Lahore, where Heeramandi was located, moved to the newly established dominion of Pakistan. The Islamic traditions, which were prominent in Pakistan owing to its voluminous Muslim population, completely opposed the practices that were prevalent in the Diamond Bazar.

These religious and traditional restrictions forced the courtesans to look for other careers in various industries. The effect of the British atrocities is, still, deep-rooted and even though prostitution is supposed to be illegal in Pakistan, the Mandi still exists.

Company style, northern India from Wikimedia Commons

For centuries now, the role of tawaifs has merely been downgraded. People, still, view the history of Heeramandi through a distorted lens. But, there is so much more to it.

The women of the Diamond Market readily supported the freedom movement and it would be an understatement to say that they just participated in the struggle for Indian Independence. Their share of appreciation is long due. How the tawaifs, who lived in Heeramandi, played a pivotal role in the war of Indian Independence is awe-inspiring. Their tale remains corrupted because history has, after all, always been narrated by a man's perspective. The stories of the courtesans of the Diamond Market deserve to be known to the world!