The first book on Delhi’s red-light district.
[By Mayank Austen Soofi]
The Delhi Walla has found a new home in GB Road, the city’s red-light area.
There I gossip with the prostitutes, eat meals cooked by them, and play with their children. The women of kotha number teen sau tell me things they don’t share even with each other. They talk of their lovers, of the families they left behind, and of their dreams. Together we listen to film songs. Sometimes we dance. I wrote all of this in Nobody Can Love You More, the first book on Delhi’s red-light district.
When I browse for books in, say, Khan Market, it is difficult to imagine that the world of the kothas exists in the same city.
The women, the pimps, the kotha owners. Is Sushma for real? She makes a hundred rupees from each customer, and she cooks dal chawal for me on the roof of teen sau. Roopa sends money to her husband in Bengal. He had abused her in the past, she ran away from him, but their relationship hasn’t died. Sumaira, everyone tells me, will not live for long. Meanwhile, the children of the kotha malik think of me as their best friend. We watch Salman Khan movies and sometimes when we are alone, we talk of their mothers and why they do what they do.
I did not just stay in the rooms where the women have to have sex with their customers. I stepped inside the secret corners of their world and found other realities, which are sad, but sometimes also beautiful. I looked for aspects that unite us with the prostitutes – our desires and hopes, our absurdities and follies, our loneliness and our fulfillments.
Nobody Can Love You More will be published by Penguin India later in 2012.
Life in Delhi’s red-light district
It will be on Best-sellers list
Delhi Walla is blazing a new trail by giving these sex workers a voice.
The book I’ve been waiting for
Wow,Best Of Luck
I’ll be annoyed if I can’t get a copy in UK/Amazon.
Whatever, good luck with its launch.
Chris
We know little about these unfortunate women .It will be interesting to know about them through your book.
looks great, can’t wait to read
3/4 years ago, iremember reading a brief sketch about a kotha by you, a piece which hooked me onto your blog. I just hope that Penguin/Viking releases an ebook version of your book. Best wishes.
It will be simultaneously published as e-book.
looking forward to reading your book,Mayank…will there be shades of Manto?
Naushirvan, there cannot be another Manto, but I hope you will find other reasons to appreciate my book on Delhi’s red light area.
Do you have a specific date around? or maybe a rough idea?
November 2012.
Coming soon in november in bookstores near you!!
lol
Soofi, the cover looks great and the book is going to be super no doubt!!!
I am buying 5 copies and wait outside your door for them to get signed
-b-
I am waiting too….
some highlights on the title , pls?