In pictures: Masseurs of Mumbai
- Published
In Mumbai, male masseurs live in small but closely knit communities with up to 40 people living in single-room dwellings. The masseurs are predominantly heterosexual and many of them are married with children and view their job purely as an economic necessity.
The pressure to send money home to their families is a constant concern and it is not unknown for several generations of the same family to be working in Mumbai as masseurs.
Duties are divided amongst the group and food is shared. Some of the masseurs have locked steel boxes for their more valuable possessions.
Estimates suggest 80% of Mumbai’s male masseurs come from rural Mathura in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a region that historically was a centre for Akhadas (wrestling schools). Many local barbers who used to give massages to wrestlers to relax their muscles later migrated to Mumbai.
In addition to massage some offer a sexual service to male clients. A wall of condoms can be seen at the offices of the Samabhavana Society, an organisation which provides the masseurs with sex education, regular access to medical screening, free condoms and financial advice.
Many of the masseurs have regular clients who contact them via mobile phone, though the traditional method of attracting new clients involves the masseur walking the red light areas of Mumbai clinking a glass bottle in a repetitive rhythmic pattern which uniquely identifies their trade.
RK has been a masseur for four years and averages 15 clients, aged between 20 and 40 years old, a week. Prior to this he worked as a farmer and his girlfriend is unaware of his real job in Mumbai.
SST came to Mumbai 17 years ago to work as a masseur and has been married for more than 20 years but does not have any children. His wife and family know he is a masseur and is not involved in sex. He plans to leave Mumbai and his life as masseur in about two years' time when he will have saved sufficient money to stock his shop as a grocery store in his village.
ST works the street, waiting in bus stops clinking empty bottles to advertise his availability. Initially he ran away when asked to engage in sex work, but now he does and has up to four sex clients a week, but always uses a condom. His family have no idea of his real job, believing he works in a spoon factory.
RS has a main job as as security guard at one of Mumbai’s hotels, but he also works as a masseur and sex worker for extra cash.
The masseurs use a string of hotels in Mumbai which offer a reduced room rate by the hour. All photographs by Charles Fox.