Heard that there was a time, when Nawabs and rich families used to sent their children (boys) to Tawaifs for learning culture and language? Is it true?
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36 readers don’t know about Umrao jaan 
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urdu poetry and literature with filled tawa'if related content..........makes me think the poets,writers,novelist frequented them a lot........
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From Mirza Hadi Ruswa to Saadat Hussain Manto… sab ne wo chobare dekhe hue the…
So did Tawa’if really contributed to culture and language?
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Never heard.
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What is a Twaif (prostitute)?
Opology in advance if its wrong 
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You are right.. normally it is considered as that.. Now Tawa'if = Prostitute, but I read that there was a time when there were categories of tawa'if.. Some Tawa'if's were not involved in prostitution.
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I think its just a myth in order to glorify or would say rather romanticize the profession. But who knows.
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But there is a history of influence of this category even on rulars like Ranjeet Singh, etc.
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Heard that there was a time, when Nawabs and rich families used to sent their children (boys) to Tawaifs for learning culture and language? Is it true?
Yes it is true. The word "Tawayaf “ has persian roots which technically means communities. However, Tawayaf is a urdu/hindi word for dancing girls and it denotes a particular class of courtesan. The word Tawayaf probably first appears inHindi/Urdu sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. At that time, Tawayafs in North India were considered high-class courtesans, unlike their more common counterparts who worked inthe bazars. Tawayafs were highly-skilled singers and dancers, who were also trained in the arts of poetry and conversation. (Japanese Geisha are the same). They were so refined that aristocrats would send their sons to be trained in sophistication, manners and etiquette.
Even in the era when courtesan arts were at the pinnacle of appreciation, most if not all tawafyafs were still sex workers of some kind. But many had dedicated patrons, to whom they would ‘belong’.
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M123 I have heard the same thing , I do not know how true is it.
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M123 I have heard the same thing , I do not know how true is it.
Uncle, I've find an article (posted in post no. 9), which proves this fact, with reference to influence of Tawa'if on society.
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Yes it is true. The word "Tawayaf “ has persian roots which technically means communities. However, Tawayaf is a urdu/hindi word for dancing girls and it denotes a particular class of courtesan. The word Tawayaf probably first appears inHindi/Urdu sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. At that time, Tawayafs in North India were considered high-class courtesans, unlike their more common counterparts who worked inthe bazars. Tawayafs were highly-skilled singers and dancers, who were also trained in the arts of poetry and conversation. (Japanese Geisha are the same). They were so refined that aristocrats would send their sons to be trained in sophistication, manners and etiquette. Even in the era when courtesan arts were at the pinnacle of appreciation, most if not all tawafyafs were still sex workers of some kind. But many had dedicated patrons, to whom they would ‘belong’.
Yes, like they depicted in Umrao Jaan that Rekha was being paid her monthly income by the Nawab (played by Farooq)
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urdu poetry and literature with filled tawa'if related content..........makes me think the poets,writers,novelist frequented them a lot........
the whole sub-continental tv & cinema also. its like anyone who wants critical acclaim shall make a movie or a drama on this issue, and out of nowhere become a hot commodity.
and suddenly everyone starts feeling liberal & intellectual also on reading / watching such stuff.
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I do agree to that. Everyone has commercialized this matter especially electronic media. But there was a time, when writers like Sahir Ludhyanwi and Ahmed Basheer created awareness about problems of these women in a positive way. Sahir Ludhyanwis ‘Aurat ne mardon ko janam dia, aur mardnon ne usse bazar diya’ is the thought provoking master piece of Urdu literature.
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Josh Malih abadi key book tou naheen parh li :cobra:
waisay bol film daikh lain aap to bahtar hay 
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You should read Agha Shorish Kashmiri "us bazaar mein" .. sub kuch clear ho jai ga..
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You mean ‘Yaadon ki Baraat’. Read that last year, but I don’t think that covers this topic in detail. I remember parts about his childhood and the problems he had to face in settling in Pakistan.
Yes, I heard about this book. and it is said that the book was written after Agha Sahib, read articles by Ahmed Basheer, as famous journalist and writer. Ahmed Basheer is the father of Bushra Ansari.