#BookReview The Princess of a Whorehouse: The Story of a Swamp Lotus

Mayank Banner

The story, The Princess of a Whorehouse revolves around a girl, Aparajita and how she overcomes her circumstances to survive in a world that looks down on her. The title of this book – The Princess of a Whorehouse –  The Story of a Swamp Lotus is most eye-catching and tempts the reader to give the book a second glance.

People like Noori and Anjum prey on the helplessness of women, mostly uneducated they trust these scum and fall into the pit of flesh trade. Ramya is one such woman who is a widow and has no means of earning her livelihood. Once struck in a whorehouse she finds a friend in Priya who then helps her to better her life. They are eventually rescued and she ends up marrying Raj, not before some trouble.

The story then follows the path of their daughter, Aprajita. The little girl has been a witness to her mother’s struggle. The two of them find love and support from Raj and Aparajita blossoms into a young successful girl. The book is her story and the lessons as a society we must learn.

The book has good, simple language and easily conveys its message of providing an equal opportunity to all women especially those oppressed and obsessed. The story is easy to read and the author does not use titillation or parade the gory details making it a clean read.

In spite of the many NGO’s and aids working to free the women from such oppression. Most of the women are just like slaves with no money, no papers or access to any help. It is virtually impossible for them to escape the brothels and pimps who hold them. The title itself is justified by the author when I spoke to him about it here. The book talks about the sensitive issue of women who are marginalised, abused, sold as prostitutes. The story makes us think about the suffering of women and our double standards towards them.

Kudos to the author for writing and talking about this topic.

 

The Princess of a Whorehouse: The Story of a Swamp Lotus

by Mayank Sharma

 

Aparajita is a tenacious go-getter. Her name means unconquerable in Sanskrit, and she lives up to its meaning.  Just like any other ambitious girl, she desires to fulfil her dreams and become an independent individual. Far and wide, the shadow of her melancholy past chases her passage. The fact that her widowed mother is a former sex worker irks the community. Nonetheless, she is not ashamed to reveal her mother’s past. Will she lose hope, or will she defy an enigma that is centuries-old? Will she ever conquer the hearts of a prestige-obsessed community?
See the world through Aparajita’s prism in a tale stirred by some real life events.

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The princess of a whorehouse
 

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