About the Book: Nautch Boy by Manish Gaekwad is a powerful memoir tracing his journey from the vibrant yet fading world of courtesans to a life shaped by elite education. Born in a kotha to Rekhabai, a celebrated courtesan, Gaekwad grows up surrounded by glamour, music, and the allure of dance. Determined to give him a better future, his mother sends him to a boarding school, where he lives a double life—reciting poetry by day and dancing to Bollywood tunes by night. Torn between tradition and transformation, he questions whether he can escape or embrace his inherited legacy. A poignant story of identity, resilience, and self-discovery, Nautch Boy sheds light on a vanishing world with honesty and grace.