UNRAVELING THE SECULAR FACE OF COURTESANS: A NEW HISTORICIST ANALYSIS OF “A SUITABLE BOY”

Abstract

In the subcontinent, the institution of courtesan has a complex history that intertwines with the multiple artistic movements in poetry, music, and dance. The current study reviews the literature on the evolution of this cultural institution to demonstrate that it has maintained its non-religious secular outlook for centuries, in the subcontinent. The study applies the principles of the New Historicist approach and explores the character of Saeeda Bai in A Suitable Boy to present a more nuanced understanding of the secular outlook of the institution. The researchers believe that the new historicist perspective on the courtesan institution has important implications for our understanding of Indian history and culture. The study counters the traditional discourses on the institution of courtesans that categorize them as prostitutes; contrarily, the findings of the study emphasize the historical role played by the courtesans as secular figures who promoted communal peace and harmony in Indian society. Additionally, the study sheds light on the lives of women in India, who have often been marginalized and silenced and encourages future inquiries in this under-researched area.