A PAINFUL POWER: COMING OF AGE, SEXUALITY AND RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL REFORM, AND HIV/AIDS AMONG DEVADASI SEX WORKERS IN RURAL KARNATAKA,INDIA O Copyright by Treena Orchard 2004 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Manitoba THE TINTYERSITY OF MANTTOBA FACULTY OF' G*RÄDUATE STUDIES COPYRIGHT PERMISSION A PAINFUL POWER: COMING OF AGE, SEXUALITY AND RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL REFORM, AND HIV/AIDS AMONGDEVADASI SEX WORKERS IN RURAL KARNATAKA,INDIA BY Treena Orchard A ThesisÆracticum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHrf ,OSOPEY Treena Orchard @2004 Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the filn, and to University Microfilms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced anO ópiea as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright ownôr. ABSTRACT This dissertation examines coming of age, sexuality and relationships, social reform, and HIV/AIDS among a unique group of female sex workers, the Devadasis, in rural areas of the South Indian state of Karnataka. Former temple servants, religious functionaries, and courtesans in the medieval to early Colonial period 1c. 10th-19t1' century), over time the Devctdasis have lost their wealthy patrons and attendant socio-religious status. While often equated with commercial sex workers, many Devadasis continue to practice age-old ceremonies and customs. However, many aspects of these sex workers' lives are misunderstood. A combination of qualitative methods was used during this research; mainly participant-observation, interviews (individual, group, life-histories), and workshops with parlicipants were coordinated to ensure their parlicipation in the process and feedback on study results. Among the most important findings is the alternative model of child prostitution that emerged from the data. Contrary to standard portrayals of the young as victirns of a degraded trade, Devadasi girls discussed some positive aspects of prostitution, such as their ability to support their families, providing income to parlicipate in peer activities, and becoming an adult. The common assumption about sex workers as sexually detached and incapable of forming important unions was also challenged, as many Devadasis enjoy meaningful sex with their long-term lovers or paftners, who are central to the women's socio-emotional and economic well-being. Their response to state-level social reform movements aimed at "rescuing" them from prostitution reveals a pragmatic understanding of these campaigns not often considered in the literature, with the women incorporating these programs into their sex work earnings to maximize their position in a demanding economic environment. Similarly, their involvement in the formation of Collective organizations in order to develop a sense of empowerrnent in their fight against HIV/AIDS reveals the women's ability to mobilize and politicize their demands. The results of this dissertation are relevant to the emerging research on global sex work, especially in relation to the issues of childhood, sexuality, and relationships, and they present new data on the Devadasis about coming of age, changes in the system over time, social reform, and HIV/AIDS. 111 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Agi- grandmother Akka- older sister Amma- mother Arlha-material wealth, one of the four goals of life Ashramas- the classical Hindu life-cycle Ayurveda-science of life, ancient Indian medical system Babu- regular clients or lovers, more commonly found in Nofth India Basavi- a female bull, used to refer to women belonging to a regional variant of the DevadasÌ system who engage in traditional, religious-based prostitution B e e di- home-made cigarette Bhakti- devotion Bharatnatyam- a special form of classical dance performed by Devadasis Bhoomi- earth Bhoga- enjoyment or sexual pleasure Bili multi- white discharge Bisi- hot Brshmacharya- apprenticeship stage in classical Hindu model of the life-cycle Chandranadz-clitoris Chapattis- wheat-based flat bread Chatta- small boils Chini- small luxuries (e.g. powder, make-up, bindi) Cholo- good Dalit- term for those people belonging to the lowest socio-economic and caste groups, formerly known as 'Untouchable'. IV Deva-rige bidu- to give to the God or Goddess Dhctbha- roadside truck stops and eateries Dhandha-Hindi term for "business", used throughout India to refer to sex work. Dharma kartas- administrative heads of temples Dhatu- semen Doddaki- to attain puberty Dosa- South Indian food item made of ground and fermented lentils, often with a potatoe filling ECPAT- acronym for the Thailand-based NGO entitled 'End Child Prostitution. Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual purposes'. Ganikadkshya- Superintendent of Prostitutes Garhasthya- householder stage in classical Hindu model of the life-cycle Garmi- heat, often used to refer to sexually-transmitted diseases Geneya- man on the side, boyfriend Gharv,alis- madam G ir aki -non-regular client Goonda- hired thug, anti-social elements G ow da-landlord or owner Gupta khayile- hidden sexually-transmitted disease Gupta langika roga- secret sexually-transmitted disease Hare- youth, in between stage of life Harijan-'children of God', made popular by Gandhi to refer to ex-Untouchables Harijan keri- arca of a settlement or town where those from the Harijan castes live H a s t am a i t hun a - masturbati on Hengisara khayile- women's disease, sexually-transmitted disease Hunnu- skin disease Idangai- Devodasi or "dancing girl" tradition historically associated with left-hand (lower) castes Inams- usufruct rights to land in return for temple service Jati- matted hair, similar in appearance to dreadlocks Jogappa- men who are transformed through the power of the Goddess into 'sacred women' Jogamma- female ascetics who often dress like men and may take up spiritual devotion to the Goddess later in life Joga[is- women who renounce the world in favour of a spiritual existence, sometimes becoming oracles and directors of certain religious functions Kadata- troubles Kai hidisuvudu- first night, first client ceremony Kali yuga- the current time in which we live Kannada- local language spoken within the state of Karnataka. Kannadiga- A local term referuing to those living in the state, especially those who speak Kannada and have lived in the region for generations. Kanyadan-'the giving of the virgin' rite, associated with marriage and rites of passage among ceftain groups Kedas athana-' spolled', sexually Ke mpu mul ti-red discharge Khavu- heat or hot, also used to refer to sexually-transmitted diseases Khiam- regular partner, lover Kunt kum- vermillion powder used in ceremonies and beautihcation Kundi- hips or behind Linga- male generative organ, phallus vt Malak- Marati term for regular (means "keep") Mane devaru- home or family deity Mangalasutre- marriage necklace common in South India Moksha-rebirth from the cycle of successive lives Molay- breast Molay tottu- nipple on the breast Mukuli- anus Muttu- beaded necklace (often red and white) that serves as the marriage necklace at the time of Devadasis' dedication to the deity. Nada uohuchu- semen (lit. "waist discharge") Nandi- the bull that accompanies the God Shiva Nautch- a corupted version of the Hindi term for dance Nirodh- condom Panca-veysha- fle celestial prostitutes mentioned in classical texts Panchayat- local council at the village or town level Pativratya-an ideal wife who is steadfastly devoted to her husband Patra- a description for dancing, often used in relation to a dancing girl/prostitute PITA- Immoral Traffic in Persons and Prevention Act Prasada- offerings made sacred on account ofbeing presented to, and having contact with, the Divine Praudha av¡ as tai- youth Pujari- priest Rajas- emotion and passion, sometimes linked with female seed Sadhu- Hindu saint or holyman vll Sakti- generative female power, essential for human life SAARC- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (includes the countries of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives) Sanghas- Collectives, registered organizations Sannyasa- renunciation stage in the classical Hindu model of the life-cycle Sari- self-immolation of a wife on the funeral pyre of her husband Shisna- testicles Shuregu hedasudhu- first client ceremony S177-Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act SÍana- breast Szlle- prostitute Sumangali- auspicious woman Tali- circular golden amulets attached to the mangalaustrq or marriage necklace Tawaif- Muslim girls who practiced singing, dancing, and sex work in Northem India Telinu- headache Tevaradiyal- Tamil term for Devadasi Tullu- vagina Tunni- penis Tiffin- meal or snack Trupti- orgasm, sexual satisfaction Udach- tumours in pelvic area Valangai- Devadasi or "dancing girl" tradition historically associated with right-hand (upper) castes Vanaprashtha- sTage of withdraw in the classical Hindu model of the life-cycle viii Vdudhu- small boils Veysha- Sanscrit term for prostitute Visha- poison I4/anli- vomit Yerakonda-