West Bengal: For this dancer, her sex worker mother is God to her

"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 in her foot before she is about to start her rehearsals for a dance drama.

She poses the question again but this time with her answer 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. Tanjila puts her foot on the floor twice to check if 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.

LEFT SCHOOL DESPITE BEING A BRIGHT STUDENT

It was a day when someone revealed in the school that she came from Purba Paschim para, 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 (stole) was snatched, her kurta and salwar pulled by the boys and abuses hurled without any stopping. 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 student, it was perhaps her last day in school as a student of sixth standard and she decided never to visit the institute again.

'PROUD TO BE DAUGHTER OF A SEX WORKER'

But this was also the day that she decided of being the pride of her mother, her profession and her existence. Abuses have never stopped and irritating questions have added to the pain.

Tanjila 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 which means eyes which are as sharp as a piercing arrow. Tanjila was a strong her but has emerged much stronger with her own will power and talent now. I too am proud of her."

'RESPECT HER PROFESSION, NOT ASHAMED 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 dance in Komal Gandhar.

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?."

ALSO READ | Sexual favours, inappropriate touches and lewd comments: Work sex abuse is highest in Delhi

Gurgaon: How sex workers use autorickshaws to strike deals, avoid police