Bar dancer pens book, hunts for a publisher

As a child, Vaishali Haldankar (38) always admired her father. Watching him brave his disability—he was physically challenged—and teach at the Madhukar Barve Sangeet Vidyalaya, Dadar, Vaishali always dreamed of becoming a singer.

As a child, Vaishali Haldankar (38) always admired her father. Watching him brave his disability—he was physically challenged—and teach at the Madhukar Barve Sangeet Vidyalaya, Dadar, Vaishali always dreamed of becoming a singer. Years later, she did. But, in a dance bar.

Vaishali’s journey from a modest, middle-class family in Dadar to singing—and later, dancing—in a bar has been traumatic, to say the least: At 16, she eloped and married a signboard artiste; at 18, her husband disowned her and their two sons; at 21, she started singing in a bar. Dancing followed.

Sixteen years later, Vaishali has penned the story of her life in Marathi and is hunting for a publisher. ‘‘When the dance bars shut, I had no work. Every day, I would sit in my room, recall my past and put it into words,’’ says Vaishali.

After writing for two hours daily, for six months, her 1,400-page autobiography is ready. ‘‘After my husband left, I started working in a bar. I danced and offered other services too, but I’m not ashamed of any of it,’’ says Vaishali, who has only studied up to Class IX.

‘‘The customers I fell in love with, the ones I was forced to sleep with…I have written about everything,’’ she adds.

Vaishali says writing has been cathartic and has helped her deal with her pain. In July last year, Vaishali was allegedly raped by her elder son Shridhar. This incident too has found its way into her book.

‘‘He ran away after that night. I have no idea where he is,’’ she says. Helping her find a publisher is Womanist Party of India president Varsha Kale. ‘‘She’s different from the others,’’ says Kale.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘After she told me she was raped by her own son, I suggested she write a book.’’