The Courtesan Chronicles
@courtesanchronicle.bsky.social
Tracing the remarkable lives of South Asia’s tawaifs— a space where history meets unlearning ✨
In 1868, the British passed the Contagious Diseases Act to curb venereal diseases among soldiers in cantonment cities like Lucknow and Calcutta.
Tawaifs were equated with sex workers, labeled ‘immoral’ and ‘diseased,’ detained in lock hospitals, and subjected to invasive medical tests.
Tawaifs were equated with sex workers, labeled ‘immoral’ and ‘diseased,’ detained in lock hospitals, and subjected to invasive medical tests.
April 2, 2025 at 3:16 AM
In 1868, the British passed the Contagious Diseases Act to curb venereal diseases among soldiers in cantonment cities like Lucknow and Calcutta.
Tawaifs were equated with sex workers, labeled ‘immoral’ and ‘diseased,’ detained in lock hospitals, and subjected to invasive medical tests.
Tawaifs were equated with sex workers, labeled ‘immoral’ and ‘diseased,’ detained in lock hospitals, and subjected to invasive medical tests.
Umrao Jaan is a 1981 Indian film starring the legendary actress Rekha (image). Set in 19th Century Lucknow, the film tells the story of a tawaif-poet named Umrao Jaan, and her rise to fame in a time of political turmoil. The film is a must-watch for lovers of history and cinema alike! #genderhistory
March 17, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Umrao Jaan is a 1981 Indian film starring the legendary actress Rekha (image). Set in 19th Century Lucknow, the film tells the story of a tawaif-poet named Umrao Jaan, and her rise to fame in a time of political turmoil. The film is a must-watch for lovers of history and cinema alike! #genderhistory