Books | When the Music's over
To know how our society changed, one only needs to read this history of a tawaif family
Their art usurped by concert performers from 'shareef' families, their lives distorted when not marginalised, their stories papered over, their contribution, to not merely the development of Hindustani music but also popular culture, effaced, the tawaifs have been the worst victims of an overzealous missionary impulse
