A Visit to a Red Light Area in GB Road, New Delhi

After taking a metro from AIIMS, I landed at New Delhi station and walked out only to notice a congested Delhi. The roads filled with rickshaw pullers and humongous traffic, without street lights at the junction, was a complete contrast to the area, where I lived in Delhi.

I was waiting for my office personnel, to accompany me to the project area in GB road. Meanwhile, I observed few men staring and passing some lewd comments. Though initially panicked, I gave a facial expression showing ignorance. After ten minutes, the project person, Aravind arrived and we moved to a small hotel to have breakfast. Aravind is a spoken English trainer in one of our projects in New Delhi.  

We had discussion about the project and the aspects to cover during my visit. He revealed that GB Road is a place where thousands of sex workers live and it is particularly not safe for men to walk in that lane during morning hours. When I asked why it is not safe, he answers, “They come directly to men and ask "Aayega kya?" and make fun by passing comments on us”, says Aravind.

He explained me clearly, that very rarely women not of this locality are found in this road, apart from sex workers. If a person like me goes there, people assume that am also one among them. This actually gave me goose bumps, if I had to visit or not, but the Regional Manager in Delhi was a woman and asked me to be bold. She was a passed out from JNU and alone goes to the project but never faced any problems.

 Remembering those words, I gathered courage and started walking towards the project. Aravind said that he doesnt want to lift his head, as the women from windows can pass any comment that could be awkward. I kept walking, and was unable to find any girl on the road except myself. I was feeling scared and started doubting if am doing right job or not.

There were all sorts of men ogling and staring differently. I ensured that I was covered with Shawl completely. For at least half a kilometer, there were no traces of even a single woman. All I could see is myself and people gazing from top to bottom.

And then I looked up and found a woman in pink saree with puffy eyes looking very dull. Somehow, I was trying to understand her, she looked at me continuously for 10 seconds and changes direction. That is when Aravind informs, that she is a sex worker.

We pass by and find a road filled with big cars ( clients cars). The architecture of the buildings in that area belong to Mughal era and are very old. The ground floor comprise of shops (various business), first, second and third floor is where women reside. It was 9:30 am and slowly women were coming out of their rooms and standing near windows.

Few of them were brushing and others teasing men with all sorts of comments. They were few women who were on the ground floor and having interactions among each other. I found few men along with them, whom i suppose to be the Pimp- the manger of brothels. The women were dressed in skirts, jeans, chudidhar, night pants and moving here and there.

I was surprised to see a very young girl (some where around 20 years), she was very beautiful with pretty long black hair. She was fair and had good physique. They were women gazing at me, initially i was scared to look into their eyes, but i somehow responded back. They were seeing me with suspicion and have conversation among them. Then all of a sudden, one of the women passes a flying kiss to Aravind and asks "Ayega Kya..?", That is when i was unable to control my laugh and giggled.

And then it was more half a kilometer to reach the project area. Suddenly a woman with bob hair cut in pink saree arrives with two other young girls and takes them into the building. The middle men interacts with her and takes them in to rooms. I saw few women with small children and also old women in late 45's having conversation.

Aravind asks me to look at the walls where something was written in Hindi. It was written "Condom pehno, Suraksha Karo". He informs that government does all this activity to educate women. When asked if officials dont take any action on these homes, he informs that sex is legal over here and most of these homes have license to carry out with activity. If there is any problem, the pimps pay money to the police and get away with it. He informs that this is not something new and existed since Mughals rule but not in such range.

We take a turn to the other side and i was able to view the houses more clearly. I was about to take a snap and Aravind warns me to put the camera inside as middle men can attack me at any moment. I was walking and was able to observe few women very closely. They are tension free people and dont give a damn about what others care. They sit on the steps and stare at people. They have very beautiful hair cuts and i was trying to talk to them but Aravind warns me not to disturb them.

Cave like structure

Rooms locked to stop communication with outsiders

I just kept walking and at one building i stopped. They were nearly 30 steps at a stretch and some how it appears that you are entering a cave. It is as such, that clients or men stand at the last step and women sit at every fifth step - 5, 10, 15, 20.... and call men. This was something i observed while I was returning to guest house. There were five women dressed beautifully and was asking a 60 year old man to come up. They were making different signs with hands and this fellow was enjoying as if he was 16. I stared at them for 10 seconds and made a move.

  By  Amoga Laxmi S