Role of Women and Commercial Sex Workers in the Indian Freedom Struggle

Medinipur was one of the leading districts of India in the annals of struggles against British colonialism. These struggles began with the violent Adivasi rebellion, popularly known as Chuar Bidroha or Choar Bidroha in 1776 to the non-violent Quit India movement called by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 including the communist party led peasant movement ( Tebhaga) of the 1940s. The role of women in general and commercial sex workers in particular of erstwhile Medinipur in the Indian freedom struggle have been discussed in this article. Commercial sex workers dedicatedly participated in the nationalist movements knowing it fully well that their profession would be harmed. It may be mentioned that almost no study has been done so far to discuss particularly the active role of commercial sex workers of Medinipur in the Indian freedom struggle. Their sacrifice was not recorded so far by our nationalist historians till the beginning of platinum jubilee celebration of Indian Independence. This article depicts the crucial role played by these women against the ruthless atrocities perpetrated by the British Raj.