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Mehru Jaffar in conversation with Veena Talwar Oldenburgh.

Kingmakers, Rebels, Mothers and the highest taxpayers; A peek into the unique history and culture of the “Twaifs” of Lucknow and how they helped shaped a kingdom. In this video, Veena Oldenburgh Talwaar talks about her 1975 encounter with some of the last remaining Twaifs from the Nawabi era, while she researched for her critically acclaimed book on Lucknow. She recalls her own surprise at discovering that these “ nautch girls” used to be the highest tax payers in the city. They were the only female citizens who were economically independent. The position and life of a courtesan were even better than that of a queen at times.

A tawaif was a highly successful entertainer who catered to the nobility of the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the Mughal era. The tawaifs excelled in and contributed to music, dance (mujra), theater, and the Urdu literary tradition, and were considered an authority on etiquette. Tawaifs were largely a North Indian institution central to Mughal court culture from the 16th century onwards and became even more prominent with the weakening of Mughal rule in the mid-18th century.They contributed significantly to the continuation of traditional dance and music forms and then emergence of modern Indian cinema.

The patronage of the Mughal court before and after the Mughal Dynasty in the Doab region and the artistic atmosphere of 16th century Lucknow made arts-related careers a viable prospect. Many girls were taken at a young age and trained in both performing arts (such as Kathak and Hindustani classical music) as well as literature (ghazal, thumri) to high standards. Once they had matured and possessed a sufficient command over dancing and singing, they became a tawaif, high-class courtesans who served the rich and noble.

The tawaifs would dance, sing (especially ghazals), recite poetry (shairi) and entertain their suitors at mehfils. Like the geisha tradition in Japan, their main purpose was to professionally entertain their guests, and while sex was often incidental, it was not assured contractually. High-class or the most popular tawaifs could often pick and choose among the best of their suitors.

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