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Speaking of the Unspeakable: The Debate on Sex Trafficking in Colonial India
Introduction - The discourse on Sex Trafficking in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has a distinct Eurocentric tilt. The expressed horror and consequent protectionism revolves around the notion of White Slave Traffic from the western nations to the underbelly of Eastern societies. The conversation within Eastern societies on the issue of sex trafficking is an under-researched area. This study explores the discourse around sex trafficking in India between the period of 1900 and 1947, the period of intense international activism specifically against sex trafficking.
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to understand the participation of a colonized society in an international discourse led by the colonial powers. It seeks to explore whether the colonized societies echoed the colonial narrative or tried to present a perspective of their own. Moreover, it tries to find women’s voices in this debate.
Methodology – The methodology used is Discourse Analysis based on archival data.
Sources – The Study is based on the analysis of two newspapers - The Times of India and the Amrita Bazar Patrika. While the Times of India was British owned, the Amrita Bazar Patrika was a member of the nationalist press.
Findings – The study traces the trajectories of shifting ideologies, the entry and exit of different stakeholders, the changing contours of partnerships, and the submerged voices of women.
Contribution to the Field – This study researches a new aspect of the history of the anti-trafficking movement.