Lost Girls: Life in Mumbai's Red Light District

How did you get involved in the Priya series, and what attracted you to it?  Is this your first comic book?

Ram saw my show HONOUR: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan, in 2016 and liked it. The show is about a trafficking victim who has a child in the brothel who has come of age, so the subject matter is very close to the comic. Ram then approached me in 2018 about the third chapter in Priya Shakti series. We had a few conversations and he brought me on board to write it. Yes indeed, this is my first comic book.

You're currently doing a play about the experience of women in brothels in Mumbai, what was the research for that like?

When I first started writing HONOUR it was about a mother daughter relationship, and was mostly informed by the relationship and not so much by where they lived. That still remains the point of the show, I am presenting humanity of people who live in the brothels to my audiences in hopes that they see that inside we are all the same. As human beings our desires and dreams are the same regardless of where we live. I grew up in South Mumbai and saw red light districts very closely. I observed people in these neighborhoods and their behaviours. And then as the journey of the show continued I did talk to some women who are in the sex industry. I feel I continue to learn so much more about sex trafficking and the industry as I continue touring with the show. So the research is on going. 

What has the response been from the public?  What about from the women in sex work you interacted with?

Response has been amazing, both from the media and audiences. Women in sex work that I have interacted with say they feel their stories are being depicted exactly like they unfold in real life through the show. Some found it powerful to see the show and some found it healing. So overall we are very grateful for how the show has been received.

When did you first get involved in humanitarian issues, and particularly those problems affecting women?

In 2012 to be exact when HONOUR was presented by La Mama in New York. We had a wonderful panel with a trafficking survivor and that was the beginning of my journey on the specific issue of trafficking and prostitution. But I have been a feminist my whole life, and wrote first piece that demanded social justice and gender equality for All India Radio when I was 13 years old. 

How do you see art touching and influencing the lives of the people you're writing about and portraying?

I hope as people become more aware of the impact these massive issues have globally they become more vigilant. Right now there is a huge stigma against people in the sex industry which makes it very difficult for them to come out even if they want to. If we can connect with them as people and build bridges perhaps the reality could change. If with the show and the comic we can change hearts and connect people as people we would have done our job.

Do you hope to influence any political change in India from work like this? 

I would surely hope to influence political change in India. Major issue in a patriarchal culture is the polarization of power which then leads to oppression of women. For instance marital rape is not illegal in India, my hope is that with this comic book people understand that women are not merchandize, or property, and start to treat and raise women differently. I hope that the lawmakers start to look at women not merely as wives but as human beings who deserve respect from the judiciary system.

I lived in India for 6 months and one thing that struck me was how women in Hindu mythology are actually quite powerful (perhaps more than in any other religion) and yet there is still a lot of misogyny, why do you think that is?

 Interesting observation, one that has disturbed me since my childhood. Goddesses are worshipped and yet women are treated like second class citizens. I do believe that ancient India was a place where women enjoyed power and stature. But in time patriarchy took over and perhaps the imbalance happened. People are afraid of Gods and Goddesses, it is the fear that makes them bow down. Perhaps if women had the power to destroy men they would treat women like Goddesses too.

Do you think that because there is a base of female empowerment to draw on, art might be the most powerful tool to address it?

In my opinion art is always a powerful tool to address any issue whether it be related to women or anyone else.

What's your next project and where/when can we see it?

My next project is a play called HER STORY...His Shadow, which addresses the invisible fabric of patriarchy that exists in the modern households, where a woman's identity is still shaped by a man, but she never realizes it. It is dangerous when women become part of the patriarchy and feed into it. 

The play is being developed right now and hopefully will be staged in 6 months to a year.