LICENSED FLESH TRADE- INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC SCENARIO

Abstract

Prostitution is one of the world's oldest industries. The Roman verb prostituere, meaning "to expose in public," is whence we get our English word "prostitution." Prostitution, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is having sexual encounters with several clients in exchange for money. The Rigveda has the oldest known reference to prostitution in ancient India. Women who were frequented by many different males are described as courtesans and prostitutes in the Rig Veda. As males get linked with a young courtesan, so the brilliant Maruts (storm gods) are believed to have been associated with the youthful (lightning) in Rigveda. I.167.4. The custom of rulers presenting rishis with slave women as a gift is mentioned in the Rig Vedas. While prostitution was likely widespread in ancient civilization long before it was mentioned in written sources (a few decades after the Vedas). The bronze dancing girl from Mohenjo-Daro represents a holy prostitute working inside the confines of the mother-goddess temple during the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. In his work Arthashastra, Chanakya explains why a prostitute is successful and what she does for a living. State-regulated prostitutes, known as Ganika, generated huge sums of money for the government.There was a devadasi system earlier that used to contribute all her life in the devotion of Lord Krishna. They were highly respected by royals. Later they were called Nagarvandu i.e. Bride of the town they were called by royals to sing and dance. Later when British people came to India they changed to the concept of the previous system and introduced prostitution. British officers used to call Devadasi to perform art and from here it became the beginning for one night stand. The Indian Economy began to deplete and people started losing their means of livelihood women then started selling their bodies to the British officers in an exchange for money.