Those dark alleys are smeared with foul-smelling blood… filled with gaudy lights radiating from huge, flashy billboards that brighten up the night. Carnal desires are fulfilled… Bodies are sold for a few rupees. Millions of women and men are involved in the trade. Sex is cheap; love comes at a great price. Love is a lie. Sex is the only truth.
G.B. Road, Delhi, is flooded with men in the evening. A brief visit reveals the truth behind those skeletal windows… flashing faces of distorted women. The overbearing smell of rancid body fluids, semen and blood mixed with inexpensive perfume wafting through the air. Used and unused latex can be seen soiled in mud in veiled areas… unknown, unloved faces try to hide in the dark alley of reality. Dilapidated walls with naked patchwork of fading paint adorn the brothels. Every window contains women clad in nothing but unabashed melancholy… Brothel. Whore-house. That is what they call this place. The red light district is filled with zombies: emotionless, unthinking, mechanical sex workers confined in a four-by-six room.Nights of revelry and days of melancholy fuse into one another, day after day without respite – where these women live, and where these women die.
Most of the women who work in these so called ‘houses of ill-repute’ do not enter the trade out of choice. They mostly come from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal and are sold for money. These girls are lured into the grandeur of big cities and brought to places like Delhi, Calcutta, and Mumbai in the name of getting a job. The girls are deceived by their masters, who make them work for two or three months as a house maid or manual worker. They are then sold to a ‘naayika’, a senior sex worker, for a heavy sum of money.
As soon as a girl enters this den of vice, the naayika levies a loan on her. For example, if a naayika buys a girl for two lakh rupees, the amount thus paid has to be reimbursed by the girl herself – and that is not the end of her woes, as an additional 10% tax is levied on a monthly basis in the name of subsistence. If she tries to run away, her parents and society reject her and treat her like an outcast. The girl is thus trapped in a barbed labyrinth of troubles wherein she has no choice but to give into the demands of her naayika, ensnared in the house of prostitution.
The brothels follow a chain of command. The naayika functions as the head. Young girls in the trade, as suggested, are hardly given money. The naayika holds the reins of five or six younger girls who not only work for her but also bring in money for pimps, managers, police and various minor characters. Every woman attends to at least 10-20 clients a day, and more than 20,000 condoms are used every month.
HIV and venereal diseases are commonplace. An ailing or infected sex worker is left to fend for herself in her small, dingy, claustrophobic room. She might die out of suffering and ignorance but since she is an invalid, and thus valueless, she is hardly cared for.
The women who work in brothels have hardly known love, they have hardly been loved. All they have been through is unbearable pain.Each breath they take is another’s.
As dusk dawns upon Gaston Bastion Road, a strange heaviness fills my heart. Memories of people known and unknown flash before my eyes… grotesque pictures soak my heart… I see people involved in nothing but duplicity, deceit, treachery, betrayal and infidelity… All they want to do is use another, for gratification and pleasure… But what kind of contentment can one get by hurting another? By doing nothing but inflicting pain?
I feel sore, broken. A sense of profound pain fills my eyes with a cascade of tears. I imagine the world… bereft of love, bereft of emotions. Everywhere around me people hurt each other – lie – lie about their emotions, lie about their feelings, and lie about love… Sex becomes the only means of satisfying a soul. I do not say that sex is not important, but is it the only truth? Is it the only thing that matters? The concept of soul-mates is but a lie!
Love is slowly losing its innocence. It peeps through darkness like a scared, scarred child… apprehensive and timid… afraid to show its face to the world of experience… afraid to be tarnished by the flawed concepts of the world. Isn’t it time we erase the blemishes that scar the face of love?
People are dying all around… Out of hatred, abhorrence, abomination! Isn’t it time we realized the importance of love? Isn’t it time we held that beautiful sensation close to our spirit and tried feeling its life-breath? Love is a lie we tell to console ourselves… but isn’t that lie sweeter than the bitter truths of life?
Dear NRI readers why not connect with us on the following social media platforms.
A Post Graduate in English Literature from Miranda House, Delhi University. A completely Visual person who likes to dream. Lover of 'Chai' and 'Cheesecake', a fusion of east and west. Can cry at a joke or laugh at the saddest things in life. Admires smiles as well as tears. At times too talkative, at times too quiet. Social yet reserved, in the company of many, yet lonely. My pockets jingle with little blessings of people around me. Among innumerable faces I am just another one trying to find a place in this world
Peta Jinnath Andersen is a freelance and fiction writer. Born in Sydney, Australia, to a Fiji-Indian father and Scottish mother, she’s a bit confused about her background, but loves it all the same. Currently living in the US, she has just had her first child, and is busy studying hard in an effort to learn more about her Indian heritage – including taking Hindi lessons – so she can teach her son about just what it is that makes an NRI special.
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on April 29, 2012
at 1:42 pm
Why the hell govt is not doing anythng if this place is so common that every kid of every street knopws abt this so called gb road..
on April 29, 2012
at 6:15 pm
hoping this link helps someone in need.
The philosophy of Prajwala evolved based on the need of women and children who are victims of trafficking. Prajwala emerged as an anti-trafficking organization, which believes in preventing women and children from entering prostitution, which is the worst form of sexual slavery.
http://www.prajwalaindia.com/home.html
on May 14, 2012
at 10:59 am
kya koi janta hai ki in area mein jane valle log hi inhe bhadava de rahe , khud sochiye agar koi kisi ki dukan se saman purchase hi nahi karega to vo dukan apne app hi band ho jayge!by the way you write your view very well anukriti sharma!
on June 9, 2012
at 3:46 am
one of the key facts is that about 30 to 40 percent customers don’t even use condoms and the rates are high for unsafe sex.
on June 9, 2012
at 10:13 am
That’s seems like an accurate assessment.
How did you come about the 30-40%? Seems like first hand information.
on June 10, 2012
at 6:10 am
so much light is shed on his issue, but nothing seems to be done and everything being done doesn’t seem like enough. It’s terrible that things like this happen, makes one’s heart bleed that one person can treat another without the tiniest smidge of empathy
on June 11, 2012
at 8:29 am
I think the writer is too imaginative. Should have done a bit of research before typing this. A photograph is not enough.
on June 11, 2012
at 3:55 pm
one thing is clear brothels r also going to stay.only way is by legalising prostitution in india.
as:-)
1.when an ‘industrty’ hitherto banned is legalised, the gains n real price(not saying full price) do reach the primary producer
PS:govt of ind will get some pennies as taxes and some foreign exchange too
on June 16, 2012
at 8:13 am
i have visited those brothels many a times, firstly it used to be like fun for me but then i realized about the lives of the children of all those ladies living teir..
most of them are cheated by customer, who lure out money from them by saying them he will marry but once he took the money no one returns..
1 in 40 cases are ok.
apart from it they are forced to attend atleast 20-25 customers daily.
I would just request all of you going through this comment to do something to help them.
Am not yet that much settled and established to something that on a large scale and such kind of topic.
on June 16, 2012
at 8:52 am
@Mayank,
I am deeply concerned myself. I am a law abiding citizen. If only polygamy was allowed by law I would have married the entire lot and saved all of them from their dirty life they have to live. Sorry Pal my hands are tied by law.
I don’t really know if I would live long enough till the law is changed. But I do have hopes.
on June 28, 2012
at 10:38 am
very heart touching.
on July 10, 2012
at 11:16 am
I really salute your spirit rajpriya and mayank…….. I think that the youth of delhi shud start a campaign for this….. It can start from the people reading this article….. We can give it a thot….
on July 21, 2012
at 2:33 pm
Dear Anukriti Sharma: Your thinking and mission is very good, but tell me one thing why did you write “Dear NRI readers why not connect with us on the following social media platforms.” at the end of your writings. What do you want to mean? Only NRI can able to change in the system? What is your thinking about “RI”????
on August 5, 2012
at 9:39 am
Ha….ha….who are you Mr.Faggot ‘Mayank’…u are speaking like our ministers…..Havent u ever crossed any red light,bribed a policeman or anyhting which is easily forgotten……bloody people like u are loosers…..if u want to change…..f u want to clean the gutter,u have to step in the gutter…..it’s easy to say many things…..there are mafias involved in the trade as well…..but yes these girls can be brought out from theor treachery…..just give them some money & work and u urself respect them as a woman…..discussing on these websites and saying words dont do anything…..U have to go & do it urself to bring that one small wave in the sea which may lead to tsunami……I will go and recue a girl from there and will be beack here then…..will get her thing called life and then work for others too…..
on August 11, 2012
at 5:05 pm
Yes everything is right but Garibi aur Agyyanata badi khatarnaak beemari hai bhai
our governments hav to do somthing.
other wise if they get liscence then their life may get better. because they dont hav to fear and paid to manager police etc as told by writer…
on August 16, 2012
at 1:53 pm
Dear friends,
The brothel is running since centuries and will continue for many centuries. It will continue till the existance of man on this earth. No one (R) No one can do anything to stop this practice.
V must not look them with dirty feeling. They plays very important role by satisfying so many customers who start wondering for sex after seeing so many visuals all around.In their absence those dissatisfied elements may target the females of so called modern societies or become mentally ill. In absence of sex even animals get mad, then why not the men. They are not less than security staff, who sacrifiece their pleasure for the safety of other females of our societies.
As a gentleman what we can do is to ask the gvernments for the following:
– Legalise their services;
– Carryout periodical medical Check-ups;
– Free shelters homes for those who gets infected with HIV/AIDS;
– School facility for their childrens;
– Provision of training for them and their chidrens, if they do not want to continue.
– And if possible ban/reduce the inflow of various arousing elements available on internet, TV, mobile etc.
on August 18, 2012
at 11:11 am
Everyone knows of GB Road…Why its still running..Its been 66 years now….and in the heart of capital we still have biggest KOTHA…. Hats off…. I can do alot about it but I wont coz m afraid…..afraid of being alone…afraid of law…
…….I miss my college days when I use to be more valuable to society…..
on August 20, 2012
at 6:30 am
Here is a woman who is doing the least something she could do to empower at least a fraction of those affected women. See if those who care could give her some support.
http://www.siasat.com/video/india/sex-slavery-india-must-watch
on August 23, 2012
at 11:22 am
Dear All,
In my opinion no any thig is bad,depend on person how can use that thing if he safe means socity is safe if he not safe than society is not safe so that all indian are responsibile how to safe our country,if anyone continue labour that way and no any help than what result get
on August 28, 2012
at 9:13 am
Mai to ye kehna chaunga ki agar waha koi jayega hi nahi to wo apne aap band ho jayega, hamara desh to theek hai lakin yaha ke log theek nahi hai, Sarkar ko waise kam se kam 1 bar to action lena hi chahiye,
legi bhi kyon Sarkar ke karmchariyo ki bajah se to wo chal raha hai
on September 1, 2012
at 8:53 am
friends ye sab badti population ka natija ha. Population hi gandgi ka karn ha har tarah ki gandgi is ko mitana ha to khud badlo or agay in punjabi ‘dekh la marji a, sada kehna ta farz e aa’
on September 1, 2012
at 8:56 am
n.r.i kyu kuch kare country ap ki ha meams sab indians ki including me .je kam i.n.p kare indian peopls
on September 1, 2012
at 3:24 pm
all these things are very well written but there are some facts which we can’t deny…. Places like g.b road are the source of earning bread for many families..
on September 3, 2012
at 9:06 am
After going to gb road nObody thinks of doing rape…
on September 3, 2012
at 9:16 am
How can you claim this rahul??? There are many people who do not pity on the condition of girls living there…. They go there to get satisfation and then nvr luk back….
on September 12, 2012
at 9:42 pm
We should legalise prostitution.. itz not a bad thing… but if these agents and pimps really pressurise those girls for money, govt has to take steps for that…
on September 30, 2012
at 7:06 am
Hello friends,
Our government is having one simple problem dat dy don’t want to loose their vote bank so dats d reason dy don’t want to remove this red light area.
I stay here in auckland and prostitution is legal here and new zealand government had imposed higher tax rate on brothels which is around 40 percent which makes the service really expensive due to which the customer is decreasing and brothels are closing day by day.
NZ government follows a very simple fashion to get rid of the problem and dat trend is to increase the price of thing so much dat it would be out of reach of people.
Government can’t stop people from going there but government can force some law so that it will be so expensive which makes it out of reach for them..
Nowadays lots of scam going on and I am even ready for the red light area taxes scam as well
But If this scam can save can save these sex workers life then I am ready but kindly propose new law not on paper but also implement d same in reality.
I know lot of guys are not going to agree on wat I said bt I had just given my opinion and had written wat I had seen here.
Thank you friends,
on September 30, 2012
at 7:57 am
@Rynal,
May be in New Zealand by making prostitution a luxury would deter men going to them. In India its poverty that drives many women into the Red Light area. Increasing the taxes would not save a sex workers life. It would only mean that they would be deprived of the only means to earn a living.
Many Indian women are exploited and lured into prostitution not by their own choice. Why do women work in brothels in NZ? Is it because they are lazy to find jobs? Is there so much of poverty in NZ?
on October 4, 2012
at 5:42 am
this must be stooped as fast as possible.
on October 4, 2012
at 11:55 am
@rajpriya
Prostitution remain same through out the world..its not like the people here do prostitution for luxury.girls choose this profession bcoz its easy medium to earn.
They are having two hands by which they can do anything and can earn their livelihood.
A lot of medium are there for example they can do some work like sewing,cutting ,embroidery which does not require any education at all.
Moreover government need to take some step to improve their life like when I was in India I had attended one aids awareness seminar.I came to know about lot of facts which most of the people are not aware of.
Second govt need to provide free seminar classes or to conduct surveys in these areas so that they can easily came to know how much percentage of girls are involved in this and how to rectify their problems.
Govt itself doesnt want to work on this area just bcoz this topic was never highlighted ever.
Thanks
on October 17, 2012
at 5:47 pm
Hey all,
Every one is posting their reviews, so let me also share something.. guys & girls i heard about this gb road from my school days, just few hours before i was their on that brothel street first time in my life, visited with one of my friend every face was their helpless but were hiding their pain & were luring customers with their fake smile, they were so many girls that its not a matter for a one person to rescue them as a super hero, if we really want to end it up we all have to unite, i was helpless to do anything so what i did is to sit beside them and had few words with them asked about their family & all, just tried to make them smile with my interaction, & when i was coming back whatever i was having in my wallet i gave them all, they were first not taking the money because i have not even touched them, after insisting they took it, i don’t know whether it was good or bad activity from my side, it just i felt at that time so i did atleast for few minutes they were not with a customer but with a friend who can help them, so what i can think if they can sit with me & chat for an hour without even discussing anything pervert or take a break from their regular routine it was just a friendly conversation i believe they can choose a different path for their life they just need those helping hands. about me am an entrepreneur a student a guitarist & many roles i have in my daily life being at the age of 23, whatever today i have seen their was not at all skipping from my mind so just now was going through this article from a nice person who initiated this topic. may be sex is important but sex is not everything.. !! take care all. world can be good if we all want it to be.
Rv
on October 28, 2012
at 4:23 pm
Randiya sirf chodne ke liye hai… Agr ye randiya gb road pr naa ho tho rape cases can increse by 70% in delhi
We can help them by improving their way of working which include:
•Safe sex by using good quality condoms
•taking care if hygeine
•a govt doctor must be there to look after
•
on November 12, 2012
at 9:54 am
hi u all r rite bt i think gov iz nt dong anything there must be any reason behind it…..wt u say guys
on November 14, 2012
at 2:28 pm
Rajvveer i salute you for whatever you initiated….. Ur vry nice at heart… I wish evrybody cud be lyk u…
And parag…. Whatevr the reason may b… I feel that govt wont ever take a step…hume hi is cheez ko improve karne k baare mein sochna chahiye…. What about a campaign.. What do u guys say…
on November 20, 2012
at 1:10 am
ya kiara , you are absolutely right but how we must lit up first spark???
on November 26, 2012
at 7:30 am
Brothel street in some way help the night life of females.Look into the night life of Chennai and Mumbai.In chennai we cant find many girls in night they scared to go out.But in Mumbai,is a place with Brothel street are more safe for girls and we can find many girls hanging around in city.
on December 18, 2012
at 9:27 am
oh so sad this is our duty as humans to help these people who are suffaring frm such pain.i dont know where is it bt i want to help these womans by do some thing for them as it is my duty.these slave womans laid worist life.if we help some body god himself help us when we need help it is duty of every human to help others and love them not hate these womans are also human beings.
on January 23, 2013
at 3:49 pm
bhaiyo agar gb road close kr diya gaya to delhi me rape cases or badh jayenge…. or gb road kya night clubs me jaakr dekho waha to prostitutes hi dikhengi aapko nrml girl to koi nhi milti…
on February 26, 2013
at 11:32 am
Ms Sharma, men and women are biologically and psychologically different. And there is no shame in one gender seeking more sex than the other. So you see, its a supply demand problem. And as in any form of supply demand gap, the only way to ensure a fair deal is to legalize ways to close that gap. So whatever emotion you might be feeling, its all good and very touching, but the only way to solve the crisis is to legalize prostitution in India. And not blame men, pimps and poverty. But maybe you are one of those intellectual types who can talk about these things in a way which touches the emotional chord, but in reality can perhaps do little to solve the problem. Or maybe not, and you are someone different.
on March 16, 2013
at 8:33 pm
oh v.sad dear..
apke dwara dekhe gye pyari duniya
k sapne tut gaye..
on March 31, 2013
at 8:04 am
i’ll go with Kirti (dated February 26, 2013 at 11:32 am) and i think she is right, we can’t stop this crises without doing it legalise. Because all the persons has different life and different way to enjoy the life And all the genders have their own opinions and thoughts.
In my opinion, this should be legalise cause this is the only way to stop it but with some rules and regulations.
on April 23, 2013
at 12:05 pm
That’s a common Photo from google images
What is special GB road is all well known
Legalize what? You think this exist without official patronage and bribes lol! The amount of money this industry makes is mind boggling.
I visit regularly & I don’t find a problem , trafficked or not none of these people are going anywhere soon.
on April 23, 2013
at 3:21 pm
The time is ripe for the Indian Govt. to start giving an allowance to all those guys with rapist tendencies in India to satisfy their needs at GB Road.
I think rapists don’t go there because prostitution is still illegal in India.
on April 29, 2013
at 6:17 pm
If these kind of place is avail in india openly sex provide so the rape cases should be stop , even dont think about rapes its simply request.
on April 30, 2013
at 8:02 pm
most of them r from nepal…even some girls like their profession
on May 4, 2013
at 7:55 pm
hii dear i want to sad something i want to GB rod delhi ….only 64 number are safe and my advises …never trust DALAAL he is brobrar they told you i have beautiful girls is cheep rate and may more option kashmiri punjabi and many more when you are go with him then nothing and after they……..ye aap ko loot lenge aur aap ke pas koi option nahi hoga ishiliye aap se kahata hu kabhi bhi GD rode ke dalalo ka bharosha mat karna main apna aap biti likh raha hu aap ishe jarur yaar rakhna.
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