Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area, with an additional Epilogue

Taboo! is a journey of discovery into a famous red light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as Shahi Mohalla , the Royal Bazaar, or Heera Mandi , the market of diamonds. The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances has ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to the prostitution, it has given birth for centuries to many well-known performing artists. The book captures a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes and their pimps, managers and customers. These people are struggling to make a living by following ancient traditions, yet not knowing clearly where they fit in the larger picture of present day society. Taboo! helps eradicate a blind spot in our understanding of the power relations associated with gender roles throughout our society. The book is a journey of discovery into the infamous red light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla (the Royal Bazaar), of Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). The phenomenon of prostitution coupled with music and dance performances had ancient roots in South Asia. Regardless of the stigma attached to prostitution, it has given birth for centuries to many well known performing artists. The book paints a more realistic picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers and customers. Takes the reader on a journey of discovery into the infamous red light district of Lahore, Pakistan, known as the Shahi Mohalla, or Heera Mandi (the market of diamonds). This book paints a picture of the phenomenon through the stories of the people living there: the musicians, the prostitutes, and their pimps, managers and customers. Shifting The Focus -- The Shahi Mohalla During The Day ... And Night -- A Ph. D. Girl In The Red Light Area -- My First Contact In The Mohalla. Fouzia Saeed ; Foreword By I.a. Rehman. Ten Years Of Taboo, With An Additional Epilogue--cover. Originally Published: 2001. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [327]-329) And Index. Takes you on a journey of discovery into the famous red light district of Shahi Mohalla in Lahore. This work tells the author's story through the lives of people linked to the Shahi Mohalla: the prostitutes with their pimps, managers and customers as well as the musicians and others. I had just finished fourteen months of fieldwork, logging thousands of kilometres on my old Toyota in the process.