Women's Day Special: My mother is a sex worker, and I am proud of her

Tanjila Khatun and her mother Radiya at their residence in West Bengal. Photo courtesy: Tapas Bairy

"Have you ever seen God," asks 23-year-old Tanjila Khatun as she wraps her bright red dupatta around her slim waist and checks her anklet before she is about to start her rehearsals for a dance drama.

She poses the question again but this time answers it too. "Like millions of daughters on the planet, my mother too is God for me but in my case she gets that respect only from me and abuses from the world… because she was a sex worker," she says.

Tanjila puts her foot on the floor twice to ensure that the anklet is tight enough, and does not come undone when she is performing. A resident of North 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal, Tanjila had to leave studies because her mother's work.

It all began when someone in her school revealed that she came from the locality that houses the infamous red light area of the district. Her classmates started mocking her and some even went to the extent of propositioning her. Her dupatta was snatched, kurta and salwar pulled by the boys, and abuses hurled.

Seeking justice she approached the principal of the school for bringing an end to this ordeal. The principal said that since he hailed from the dark lanes of society, her presence in the school would hinder the future of other students and earn disrespect to the school too.

Despite being a bright scholar, it was perhaps her last day in school as a student of sixth standard, and she decided never to visit the institute again. But this was also the day she decided she wanted to be the pride of her mother, her profession and her existence.

I am honoured to be daughter of a sex worker, and she is God to me, says Tanjila

Tanzila smiles and says "I have not seen my father and now I don't even need his name. My mother's name is Radiya and I am her proud daughter." Radiya, now in her late forties has been a sex worker all her life in Basirhat, and also runs a small shop in the locality to keep the family of four children going. Radiya, too echoes the same emotions and takes pride in being mother of Tanjila.

She says, "Tanjila is an Arabic word meaning teer jaisi nazar ki jhalak... eyes which are as sharp as piercing arrows. Tanjila is strong, with her own will power and talent. I too am proud of her."

Tanjila explains, "My mother has been in this profession for more than two decades. We were asked to stay out of house entire night because she used to attend clients. We all use our hands, brains or other talents to earn a living, so does she. I find no reason to be ashamed of her. I respect her and her profession too."

Presently Tanjila is the President of Central Committee of Amra Padatik and a senior dancer in Komal Gandhar, both important wings of Durbar Mahila Samanvaya Samiti an organization working for welfare for sex workers under the able leadership of Smarajit Jana she has now become an expert in dance drama too.

The confidence oozing out of her eyes once again reflects how grateful she is to her mother and Durbar for giving her honour and respect when she looks at herself in her eyes, and not from the prism of the world.

As she once again puts her foot on the ground with force, she says: "I am honoured to be daughter of a sex worker, and she is God to me."