Blessy and Anugraha are part of Freedom Firm’s Communications Team. They recently returned from an assignment, a visit to a red light area in a bustling city. Neither of them had a visited a red light area before. Here is what they saw and felt…
What was the red light area like
Anugraha: The street looked like any other busy lane in the city, but as I walked further, I realised it wasn’t ordinary at all. The buildings were old, the windows broken, the air heavy with a strong, unpleasant smell. Sunlight barely reached the ground. Narrow lanes twisted between cramped houses, and everything felt dark and worn out. Yet life went on — people walked, talked, worked — as if nothing was unusual
Blessy: Just a few minutes into the red light area and I found it to be a place filled with dark secrets. One filled with mystery and sadness. A gift wrapped with a fancy glossy glitter sheet. Calling it a red light area is correct as it truly is a sign of danger for those poor women, girls and also children who might be trapped in those small stinky dungeons.
Tell us more about the living conditions
Anugraha: The streets were busy and crowded. The buildings had old, broken windows. Everything looked rusty — even the metal cots kept inside the rooms. The place felt like a rectangular block lifted out of time, where sunlight rarely entered. The narrow lanes were dark and the smell was strong and unpleasant.
On the opposite side were small, cramped houses. From some doors, bold-looking women stared out. Their expressions were strong, almost scary. It was something I had only heard about, but now I was standing right there.
Even though I had heard many stories before, seeing it with my own eyes was beyond anything I imagined. I didn’t think that ordinary families lived inside the same area. But they did. There was even a tailor’s shop inside that same building. It shocked me how “normal life” and “this life” existed side by side.
Blessy: These streets reminded me of a Hindi movie called Talaash which portrays a red light area in Mumbai City. The street I was on felt the same. Everything was normal from the marketplace to people visiting the market to shop, looking for a good bargain.
The women who were standing about were of different ages, skin tones, different backgrounds, they seemed to have mastered the art of blending into the market, just like a commodity for sale.
Can you tell us about the kind of people you saw – the women and customers. What were their living conditions?
Anugraha: All kinds of women — dark, fair, young, old, thin, healthy. Some looked confident, some tired, some completely broken. A long line of women stretched down the lane, and I kept wondering what kind of line could carry so much heaviness.
Men of all ages were waiting for the women. Their eyes were filled with lust, scanning women and their bodies. I saw three boys, maybe 18 or 19 year olds, secretly counting money while a woman stood behind them. That moment broke my heart. They were so young, and they had no idea what danger they were walking into — physical, emotional, even health!
Blessy: All the women were standing fully dressed and had made themselves so attractive, a kind of display, a showpiece in a crowded market for sale.
As I looked at the men who had come to the area, I wondered, what were their intentions towards these women? Was it just sex? Or was it something else? Our social worker told us of the conversation she had with some women from the red light area. There was a high demand for nursing mothers as some men would just come to enjoy the foreplay not even thinking that these women are mothers and just delivered a baby.
Did you feel unsafe at any time?
Anugraha: I felt unsafe from the time I stepped into the area. Every pair of eyes that looked at me felt wrong. It wasn’t love or kindness — it was lust. Their expressions said they would get whatever they wanted, in their own way. It hurt me deeply. I kept wondering: How long will this continue? When will I feel safe in my own country?
Blessy: No, I did not feel unsafe but at one point wondered what would happen if anyone I knew saw me roaming in this street. I did get a little conscious of my image and self respect. It did make me think of these women and how they must be feeling.
How was your first experience in a red light area?
Anugraha: This experience is something I will never be able to forget. These women might earn money every day, but what about their health? Their safety? The rooms were dark, the streets were stinking, and there was no sunlight reaching inside. My heart is filled with pain for everyone involved in forcing minors and adults into prostitution. But I also carry anger — anger towards the men and women who run these brothels, who take advantage of the vulnerable, who turn someone’s suffering into profit.
This visit opened my eyes. It showed me how much pain hides behind painted faces, bright clothes, and crowded streets.
Blessy: My first visit to a red-light area was part of my work to support girls who are victims of sexual exploitation. Even though it was a planned visit, it was still very difficult to see the reality there. As I walked through the lanes, I felt sad and uncomfortable because I could see how many young girls were living in unsafe and painful situations.
Seeing them made me realise even more why our work is important. It showed me what these girls go through before they are rescued. The visit strengthened my commitment to help them, to make sure they feel safe, supported, and given a chance to rebuild their lives.
Red light areas are places of despair, desperation and depravity. Many don’t see it as exploitation and truly believe that if these women are there of their own free will then why should anyone have a problem with it.
Well, we do. But that is a whole new discussion for another time. Till then, we would request you to go and see these places for yourself. Witness the filthy living conditions, the barefooted children running about when they should be in school, the shy teen boys who are come to satisfy their curiosity , and, more importantly, the scores of women who will look at you with empty and sad eyes.
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