Book Review – The Courtesan’s Keeper, Kshemendra

Contrary to what the imposed pseudo-morals of Victorian era have made us Indians believe in and pretend to be, the ancient India was not just a land of naked ascetics and spiritual seekers. The ancient ‘Bharat Varsha’ was a land that remained unabashed in its carnal pursuits too. In fact, we Indians treated Pleasure as one of the worthy pursuits of life, as every treatise on politics and philosophy stands testimony to, with its listing of the four-fold pursuits - ‘Dharma’ (Righteousness), ‘Artha’ (Wealth), ‘Kama (Pleasure) and ‘Moksha’ (Salvation).

While there have been treatises purely on physical pleasure, like the Kama Sutra and the Kokkoka, there are also spiritual works soaked in eroticism, like the famed ‘Geet Govind’ of Jayadeva. This work neither belongs to the literary class nor is its content on par with any of the aforementioned works, but still it demands attention on its own right. What else can you say about a book that acts as both a manual for courtesans as well as a warning to the gentle folk against their guiles?

Kalavati is a courtesan with a waning clientele in a ‘competitive’ market. Worried about her future, she seeks advice from barber Kanka. Kanka in turn makes her avail the help of Kankali, a wily courtesan in her golden days but now a loathsome hag. Kankali helps Kalavati settle her future by seducing and scamming the gullible young son of a greedy, wealthy merchant. The book starts with Kalavati expressing her concerns to the friendly barber, the barber elaborating the exploits of Kankali and ends with Kankali helping Kalavati by imparting her ‘wisdom’ and ensnaring a young prey, exploiting his wealth.

A breezy little read that attempts to protect the good men from the clutches of such crooked courtesans. If only men would listen!