Courtesans in the Living Room
Arts & Media
Courtesans in the Living Room
KAMRAN ASDAR ALI
Pakistan. Why, one might ask, have PaIn spring of 2003, the new private teleThe courtesan has been a stock character in popular South Asian literature and movies. vision channel in Pakistan, Geo TV, crekistan’s liberal intelligentsia and femiated some controversy by telecasting nists chosen at this juncture to depict The popular Urdu novel, Umrao Jan Ada, was with much fanfare Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s recently made into a lavish serialized television the life-world of the prostitute and the early twentieth century Urdu novel, figure of the courtesan as metaphors play in Pakistan. It raises questions about how Umrao Jan Ada as its first serialized tel- popular television performances create a space to argue for sexual freedom and womevision play. Umrao, one of the most exen’s autonomy? for a discussion on gender politics in a rapidly changing cultural, social, and economic milieu pensive TV series produced in Pakistan with lavish sets and costumes, depicts The narrative of present-day Pakistan. the life and times of a mid-nineteenth Umrao, set in mid-nineteenth century century courtesan in Lucknow which was the seat of power for the Na- northern India, is the story of a young girl who is kidnapped and sold wabs of Awadh in North India. Courtesans in Lucknow were recognized to a kotha (lit: roof or household, the courtesan’s salon) in Lucknow. as the preservers and performers of high culture of the court.1 Courte- Umrao grows up learning the skills of the trade with rigorous training sans held respect within the Nawabi court and young men of noble in music, singing, dancing, poetry recitation, and the various etiquettes lineage were sent to their salons to learn etiquette, polite manners, and and idioms of courtesan life. The novel is written in the first person to the art of literary appreciation. Yet they also provided sexual services, create the illusion of an autobiographical narrative. This technique
Courtesans in the Living Room
KAMRAN ASDAR ALI
Pakistan. Why, one might ask, have PaIn spring of 2003, the new private teleThe courtesan has been a stock character in popular South Asian literature and movies. vision channel in Pakistan, Geo TV, crekistan’s liberal intelligentsia and femiated some controversy by telecasting nists chosen at this juncture to depict The popular Urdu novel, Umrao Jan Ada, was with much fanfare Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s recently made into a lavish serialized television the life-world of the prostitute and the early twentieth century Urdu novel, figure of the courtesan as metaphors play in Pakistan. It raises questions about how Umrao Jan Ada as its first serialized tel- popular television performances create a space to argue for sexual freedom and womevision play. Umrao, one of the most exen’s autonomy? for a discussion on gender politics in a rapidly changing cultural, social, and economic milieu pensive TV series produced in Pakistan with lavish sets and costumes, depicts The narrative of present-day Pakistan. the life and times of a mid-nineteenth Umrao, set in mid-nineteenth century century courtesan in Lucknow which was the seat of power for the Na- northern India, is the story of a young girl who is kidnapped and sold wabs of Awadh in North India. Courtesans in Lucknow were recognized to a kotha (lit: roof or household, the courtesan’s salon) in Lucknow. as the preservers and performers of high culture of the court.1 Courte- Umrao grows up learning the skills of the trade with rigorous training sans held respect within the Nawabi court and young men of noble in music, singing, dancing, poetry recitation, and the various etiquettes lineage were sent to their salons to learn etiquette, polite manners, and and idioms of courtesan life. The novel is written in the first person to the art of literary appreciation. Yet they also provided sexual services, create the illusion of an autobiographical narrative. This technique