An Educated Women In Prostitution
The reason I must state this is that the outcome of the lack of restraint and caution seen in the lives of immoral women like ourselves has percolated into almost every layer of society.
-Manada Devi
There are a few books you read because of the hype, ‘An Educated Women In Prostitution’ is one such book for me. But I’m disappointed by the reviews I’ve read for it (there are exceptions don’t bash me)
Now I shall gladly wait for my surmise to be confirmed🙏
Beforehand I would like to tell my readers the VULGARITY CONTENT IN THE BOOK IS ‘0.0’ and I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to dwell in the life of Colonial Bengal of the 1900s (In fact I persuade you to read the book and if you have an eye you would be able to extract an outlook for current world).
Don’t judge me for being uncompassionate. I’m trying to be true to her memoir. This woman at no page calls herself to be noble nor does she seek nobility. She didn’t write the book to reclaim her innocence or ask piety or portray penance. Remember she is an educated woman, she stands by her wrong (except the first one).
This book is a memoir, memoir of an affluent Brahmin girl who unbashedly choosed prostitution as her means of survival after eloping with her cousin whom she fell in love with and who left her in a miserable state. Her life took her to a sage’s hermitage, rehabilitation centre and finally at the footsteps of a prostitute; starting a new chapter in her life. SHE PUTS FORTH THE LIFE OF A PROSTITUTE IN THAT ERA IN THE MOST DETAILED MANNER. She also participated in many freedom movements and came in close contact with powerful men and women of her time yet at every place Mana chose to build illicit liaison, seduce men or was in a compromising situation herself.
Now what is the message Manada wants to give us through her memoir which ends abruptly, this is where my intelligence as a women of 21st century stands for a test….as you turn the pages Mana blames absence of paternal love-motherly advice, school education involving poetry and novels, theatres and plays, lack of religious devotion, free mingling among youths towards the steps she took to opt for prostitution. She tells the society to be vary of allowing their daughters to perform art on stage. She cautions how the unrestricted intermingling and involvement of prostitutes in noble causes actually ended up ruining the life and morals of young men and married women. At one point she even supports marriage of girls at a young age so that their pleasure urges aren’t suppressed.
I bet along with the many political aspects and big names attached to it; this book enjoyed great sales because of the above inference.
I’m sure the Manada of today can’t blame the contemporary YA novels, OTT movies wherein ample examples are put forward to not make such mistakes and contraceptives are encouraged. There are many youth living in broken families who’ve followed and follow abstinence. People setting the stage on fire with their art have remain celibate. To be intimate and privy with whosoever is a personal choice and doesn’t define morals. The private moment anybody chooses with consent of both parties be it during a political campaign or for charitable cause doesnt make the juggernaut impure.
Agreed????
But is her admonition wrong???
That’s my Question for you
I would quote her here; “I am certain that others in my situation will testify in my support”
Bombay Reader 