Bar girls learn new ‘lessons’ in life

Bar dancers are now looking at education to secure their future instead of going back to a trade that currently stands on shaky ground

-by SANTOSH MISHRA

During their heyday, bar girls never thought of being lawyers, software programmers, social workers, secretaries or editors. Actresses maybe, but nothing beyond that.
The closure of dance bars has forced them to confront the possibility of going back to their former lives of poverty, abuse and abandonment or charting a new path for themselves. Mumbai Mirror met some who chose the latter.
They have not given up entirely on dance bars, but are no longer willing to risk their future. Prodded by their union and its president Varsha Kale, they are either completing their education or have enrolled for vocational courses.
They might not be able to get back to their heyday, but at least they can look forward to a better and secure future.

NEELU SINGH
Std XI dropout Works at a bar in Vikhroli
She came to Mumbai about five years back with some money to try her luck in the film industry. Within no time, she ran out of money and began working in bars to sustain herself and her ambition of becoming an actress. Over the years, she gave up her ambition and became a full-fledged dancer in bars. She was shaken out of her stupor by the closure of dance bars.
She is sustaining herself now by singing but, after completing a basic computer course, has enrolled in a course in non-linear editing. Yes, she is once again looking forward to working in the film industry.

PINKY RAO
Std IX dropout Works at a bar in Fort
Pinky was a resident of Hyderabad. She wanted to earn money. One of her friends seemed to be doing quite well in Mumbai. They had met when the latter came for vacations. Pinky thought she too would try her luck in Mumbai. Without informing her family, she abandoned her studies and sneaked off to Mumbai with her friend’s address in her pocket. Her friend turned out to be a bar girl. This was about 7-8 years ago. Since then, Pinky has worked in several bars.
She also took to singing when dance bars closed, but is aware that she will have to look at alternatives soon.
“I am pursuing a secretarial course with computer applications from Mumbai University. Soon I will be one of the few computer literate bar dancers,” she laughs.

VAISHALI HALDANKAR
Std IX dropout Works at a bar in Andheri
Vaishali used to study in Chhabildas High School in Dadar (W). She learnt classical singing from her father. She gave up her education when she got married to a rickshaw driver. They had two sons. Vaishali began making bangles and packing tiklis to supplement their income.
Along the way, her husband became a drunkard and then stopped working. In 1989, he forced her to join a bar as a singer to pay for his addiction. Since then, she has worked in several bars across the city.
Her family problems continued. In 1991, her husband disappeared. She survived the closure of dance bars because of her singing, but realised the precarious nature of her profession. Unwilling to take chances, last year, she enrolled for a Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP) and cleared it this year. She has now secured admission in FYBA in Yeshwantrao Chavan University.
“I want to be a lawyer and fight the evil I faced in my life. My life has taken several twists and turns, but I won’t let other women suffer the same pain.”
Prodded by Varsha Kale, she is also writing a book on her life.

REKHA CHAUHAN
Std VII dropout Works at a bar in Mulund
R e k h a Chauhan hails from Punjab. She was a Std VII student in a convent school when she was lured to Mumbai by a woman. She was 13 at the time.
She got sucked into prostitution and was detained at a Mumbra brothel for three years before she managed to escape. After a chance encounter with a bar dancer, she too joined the profession.
“It is strange that even after undergoing all the tyranny, we can still dance,” she says. When the dance bars closed, she took to singing but admits she isn’t good at it.
At that point, she realised the importance of education.
“Varsha (Kale) inspired me to complete my education,” she says. “This year, I enrolled in the FYBA course of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). I usually study while travelling or taking rest in the make-up room in the bar. I want to be a social worker.”

BAR GIRLS’ UNION

It was very difficult for the union to motivate these girls to resume their education. After interacting with them on a one-to-one basis, they started to fill up application forms. Now, an increasing number of bar girls are keen to earn degrees. They are inspired by girls like Rekha, Vaishali and Sadhana
— Varsha Kale President, Bharatiya Bar Girls’ Union

(Article published yesterday in Mumbai Mirror (TOI publication) on the initiative of restarting education of bargirls. I am posting this to keep you inform about my activities. I will try and do it time to time)