The Last Courtesan: Writing My Mother's Memoir

The words took me on a journey, I felt as if I was a close observer of the emotions, trials, and triumphs she faced. It was truly an emotional experience. As I turned the pages, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the strength and resilience of the author’s mother, her unwavering pursuit of her own path, and the sacrifices she made.The honesty and vulnerability in sharing this story touched my heart. It takes great courage to reveal the intimate details of one’s life, especially when it is intertwined with complex societal norms and expectations.It’s a work of art that will stay with me for a long time. I am moved.

The last courtesanA reviewFrom the throes of utter poverty,misery,darkness, lovelessness,ignorance and hopelessness,married away at the age of ten,and cheated into the world of child trafficking and the life of a courtesan,this is the remarkable story of a woman of steel.She rose from the rubble, to a life of glitter,glamour, fame and money,rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous,but never forgetting her filial ties.Being divinely bestowed with the gift of dance and music she seized every opportunity to rise above her destiny, keeping her dignity and core values alive in a sleazy ,shady other world.A tender,heart rending,eye opening story ...peppered with diverse people, goons and thugs...told by a mother to her son with courage, charming candour and pride.Beautifully written...a must read!

Here is the story of Tawaifs who were instrumental in bringing classical Indian music, especially the lighter music like Thumri, Gazal, Dadara, Kajari etc to the listeners ears

Not only is this memoir, a beautiful retelling of an incredibly difficult and arduous life– but it is also the story of a mother, a dutiful sister and a proficient courtesan. It is also the story of hardship but at all times, it remains hopeful and optimistic, just like Rekhabai herself!Written with raw candour, the book also, urgently throws light on the lives of marginalised people and on perhaps the most vulnerable tribes (here the Berias and the Kanjar community) and how we, with our privileges know so little about their lives. A must read! It is a short and urgent book.

I did not find the book interesting.though the author is honest and has haunting memories, but the book’s narrative failed to meet my expectations. After reading the reviews i had called for it

Enter the fascinating world of the tawaifs and gives perspective of the lives of these women. Their story, struggle, survival & triumph told in a very earnest way

It needs guts! Hats off to Manish Gaekwad, and also to his mother who never gave up on her freedom.

To some, TLC is a story of struggle, survival and then making it in the end; but when I read it, I could sense the resolve and determination in the thoughts, words and dreams of the protagonist (Rekha Bai). To me, TLC is relatable in the way all Indian parents narrated their lives and stories to their own children... at night, before bedtime, during meals, during certain events which would remind them of their childhood or past life. So Rekha Bai is narrating her life stories to her son, who weaves the stories beautifully into a sequenced memoir in his dedicated work to his mother. Without giving away too much of the story, The Last Courtesan is full of dreams and the determination to achieve them, there is zidd, there is be basi, there is drama and emotions, there is pyaar, izhaar, iqraar and inkaar, there is devotion, resolve, fear and overcoming of it, and finally the upholding of the izzat e nafs & azm (self respect & determination). The more you read The Last Courtesan (the book), the more fascinating things you discover about the The Last Courtesan (the person)... in my opinion a must-read for everyone who dares to dream.

The book is very interesting and an excellent read. It arrived on time.