Gangoobai

Gangoobai Kathiawadi, often referred to simply as Gangoobai, was a prominent Indian brothel owner and madam in the Kamathipura red-light district of Mumbai during the 1950s and 1960s. Born Ganga Harjivandas Kathiawadi, she arrived in Mumbai from Kathiawar, Gujarat.

Her life, marked by hardship and subsequent rise to power within the underworld of Mumbai, has been the subject of significant cultural attention. Details regarding her early life and exact circumstances surrounding her entry into Kamathipura are often disputed and romanticized in popular narratives. She is known for her alleged influence in the area and her perceived efforts to protect the rights of sex workers. While some accounts portray her as a benevolent figure fighting for social justice within the confines of her profession, others highlight the complexities and ethical ambiguities associated with her role.

Her story has been popularized through various mediums, most notably through the book "Mafia Queens of Mumbai" by S. Hussain Zaidi and the subsequent Bollywood film "Gangubai Kathiawadi" (2022) directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. These adaptations, while based on real events, often take creative liberties and should be considered fictionalized accounts of her life.