The courtesans in the mid-nineteenth century held respect within the Nawabi court. They taught young men of noble lineage etiquette, polite manners, and the art of literary appreciation. Because they also provided sexual services they were not entirely seen as part of the Muslim respectable gentry. 'Umroa Jan Ada', a novel by Mirza Hadi Ruswa was made into a television series and raised questions about how popular television can open space for a discussion on gender politics in present-day Pakistan.