Sonagachi, located in North Kolkata, India, is recognized as Asia’s largest red-light district and one of the largest in the world. It is situated near the intersection of Jatindra Mohan Avenue, Beadon Street, and Sovabazar, just north of the Marble Palace area. The district comprises several hundred multi-storey brothels and is home to more than 16,000 commercial sex workers[1][7].
The name “Sonagachi” means “Tree of Gold” in Bengali and has a fascinating origin story. The area was once the den of a notorious Muslim dacoit named Sanaullah, who lived there with his mother. After his death, his mother reportedly heard a voice saying, “Mother, don’t cry. I have become a Gazi,” a title for a Muslim saint or warrior. A mosque was built in his memory, which eventually gave the area its name, evolving from “Sona Gazi” to “Sonagachi”[1][6][8].
Historically, Sonagachi’s development into a red-light district is linked to the British colonial era when prostitution became widespread to cater to British soldiers and officials stationed in Calcutta. Many women, including widows from poor backgrounds, were forced or trafficked into the flesh trade. By the mid-19th century, Calcutta had thousands of sex workers housed in thousands of shelters, with Sonagachi gaining a notorious reputation even beyond India[5][9].
Today, Sonagachi is a complex socio-economic hub where many sex workers live and work under difficult conditions. Many of these women are trafficked or coerced into the trade, and the district’s narrow lanes and brothels conceal painful personal stories behind the façade of bright lights and makeup. Despite the hardships, some sex workers consider Sonagachi a refuge that provides shelter and livelihood when no other options are available[6].
Sonagachi has also gained international attention through documentaries such as the Academy Award-winning “Born into Brothels,” which highlighted the lives of children growing up in the district. Efforts by organizations like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have documented the challenges faced by sex workers in Sonagachi, including trafficking and exploitation[4].
In summary, Sonagachi stands as Asia’s largest red-light district, deeply rooted in Kolkata’s colonial history, with a name derived from a local saintly legend. It remains a significant, though controversial, part of the city’s social fabric, housing thousands of sex workers and reflecting broader issues of poverty, trafficking, and survival[1][6][7].
