Prostitution in Kashmir has deep historical roots shaped by the interaction of political authority, economic conditions, and social hierarchy across different periods. From early references in classical texts to its continuation under Islamic, Sikh, and Dogra rule, the practice persisted despite moral and legal prohibitions. Evidence from chronicles, travel accounts, and administrative records indicates that prostitution was not merely a social phenomenon but was closely regulated and, at times, actively sustained by the state. Under later regimes, particularly during Sikh and Dogra rule, it became institutionalised through taxation, licensing, and organised networks of trafficking, drawing women largely from marginalised communities. Economic distress, caste-based exclusion, and gender inequality reinforced their vulnerability. While certain cultural narratives portrayed courtesans in a refined light, the lived realities were marked by coercion, exploitation, and social stigma. Attempts at resistance remained limited and sporadic. The historical trajectory demonstrates that prostitution in Kashmir functioned within a structured system of gendered exploitation embedded in broader socio-economic and political frameworks.
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