Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is based on the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by famous writer and journalist S. Hussain Zaidi. There is an old saying that a person is not bad, his circumstances make him bad. The story of Gangubai is also like this. She was the Ganges. Deception and exploitation took away his innocence from him. A gush filled her inside. See when Ganga Harjivandas of Gujarat became Gangubai. When she became the mistress of Mumbai’s most famous brothel, it was neither known to her nor to the Mumbai mafia nor the police.
Ganga Harjivandas was from Gujarat
Gangubai’s real name was Ganga Harjivandas. She was a resident of Kathiwar, Gujarat. Born into a wealthy family, Ganga had a dream to grow up to become an actress. Parents also brought up with great love. But Ganga fell in love during college days. It was not wrong to be in love. But what he loved at the age of 16 was wrong. Probably the biggest mistake of Ganga’s life. Ganga was in love with her father’s accountant. The name was Ramnik Lal.
Husband sold to the brothel for 500 rupees
Ganga’s family were against this love. Ganga had to become an actress and also get love. So she escaped with Ramnik to Mumbai. Both got married. But before Ganga could manage herself in Mumbai’s dazzle, her poor husband Ramnik Lal sold her to a brothel in Kamathipura for just Rs 500. Everyday there was a deal of Ganga’s body. In front of the situation, Ganga used to cry daily, wept. She used to curse herself and her love.
Goon raped, Karim Lala made sister
In the decade of sixties, the coin of Mafia don Karim Lala used to run in the area of Kamathipura. Once Karim Lala’s goon caught sight of Ganga. That goth raped the Ganges. Ganga went to Karim Lala to ask for justice and Karim Lala not only got justice, but accepted Ganga as his mouth sister. This one incident changed the life of Ganga and from here started the real story of Ganga becoming Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Gangubai becomes ‘Gangum’ in Kamathipura
Gangubai grew in stature after becoming the sister of Karim Lala. She became the Kotwali Gangubai of Kamathipura. Gradually the entire command of Kamathipura also came into the hands of Gangubai. It was Gangubai’s job to run the cell. But she was good-natured, so she was ‘Gangooman’ for sex workers. It is said that Gangubai never coerced any girl in her brothel. She kept the same person on the brothel, who used to come on her own. Gangubai became a voice for the rights of sex works.
Gangsters did not keep steps without Gangubai’s permission
Gangubai’s threat was such that no gangster or the biggest mafia stepped into the brothel or Kamathipura without his permission. Gangubai not only worked for sex workers in her life, but she also became a support for orphans. Gangubai also adopted many children. These children were either orphans or homeless. Gangubai was also responsible for the education of these children.
Azad Maidan speech and Pandit Nehru
Gangubai raised her voice for the rights and interests of sex workers. In Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, Gangubai’s speech in favor of sex workers made headlines in every small and big newspapers there. Hussain Zaidi’s book even mentions that Gangubai met Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of the country.
