– A Woeful Tale of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Arkestra Dancers
Remember the scene in Mirzapur where a host of both old and young men dancing to the beats of “Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana” were misbehaving with a scantily dressed dancing girl? In these representations, the women seem to be happy to be of their service and the men, often married, seem to be hungry animals, eyeing their prey. Are such representations merely a figment of imagination or is there some reality to it? Let’s take a look.
These girls are into the profession of what we call “Orchestra Dancing” in states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand etc. In Bihar, they are often termed as “Arkestra Dancers”. They are frequently employed in marriages, receptions or other ceremonies. In these family functions, women seem to resign to their homes’ corners while men are out there, drinking, smoking, ogling at these young beautiful girls and sometimes shooting big rifles to celebrate. When one proceeds to the rural belts of Bihar, one could see a change in the celebrations in the form of these parties entertained by Orchestra Dancers.
Although today Orchestra dancing is seen as something perverse and vulgar, it was not always like this. It used to have strong artistic and cultural undertones. Their dances were the proliferation of original dance forms originating in these states. Unfortunately today, the pristine artform has taken a horrid turn where tales of exploited girls hold the stage. These girls belong to very poor households among which some are even minors. They come to these states looking for jobs where they are roped in the various rackets propagated by men. Some promise marriage, wealth or some guarantee fame in the Bhojpuri industry.
The women who fall in these traps, get intimate with their lovers after which they are blackmailed with videos of their private moments. Trafficking runs strong to get girls to become orchestra dancers by raping, abusing and ultimately selling them to dance agencies. Once they are sold to these agencies, they have to face another round of abuse and beatings until they comply to perform.
During these dances, the dancers are supposed to show more skin or sometimes, the public even request nude performances. But ‘dance’ is not where it all ends. These women are often touched, grabbed and misbehaved at these dances where there is no one to protect them. Even if a few fences are put up barring men to get close to them, they have the audacity to climb up these and kiss them or touch their private parts. They are subjected to such sardonic barbs at the hands of these lust-filled powerful men which has become part and parcel of their profession. After these dances, some men even pay the agencies to have them for the night. This evil therefore doesn’t just end at sexual harassment but easily extends to prostitution.
After gaining the status of dancers, these women have no other option but to be dancers their whole lives. Even if they want to go back to their homes and lead a different and better life, they can’t because of the stigma associated with such professions in India and are trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty, exploitation and sex trafficing.
So, how did a simple profession of dancing turn into an ill-reputed thing to do in Bihar? In every profession, an individual can exercise their fundamental rights but Indian society has attached such a stigma to some professions that the hue and cry of violation of these fundamental rights goes completely unheard. It is a completely unregulated sector where sexual harassment or rapes are not seen for what they are. While the Government feels no responsibility for the oppressed, there are small NGOs trying to improve the situation but it’s quite doubtful if they in fact stand a chance to beat the exploitative system. It is our sincere hope that through social and digital media, like these dances that go viral, their real work conditions also become visible to the public and the government and they take steps, even if small, to bring an effective change.
