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India's Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi
Born into poverty in the notoriously lawless Chambal Valley in Northern India, Phoolan Devi has become one of the most famous bandits in India's history, a living legend--"The Goddess of Flowers," champion of the oppressed, revered by millions.
As a child of the lowly Nishad castes she fought for her father's land rights--an unprecedented action for a woman. Her subsequent refusal to tolerate an arranged marriage put her beyond the pale, and as a punishment she was kidnapped by a dacoit (bandit) gang. Many would not survive such brutality, but within a year Phoolan emerged as the leader of her own band, and soon became one of the region's most notorious bandits.
In revenge for the murder of her lover, and her own rape, she is said to have been responsible for the murder of 22 high-caste Hindu men. Phoolan made powerful enemies, and the police net closed in on her until she finally surrendered--on her own terms, in front of thousands of people--in 1983. She faced 55 criminal charges, including murder, and was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail.
But she was now a political pawn, and it was not until February 1994 that Phoolan was finally relased, to the discomfort of many high-caste Thakurs, and the unbounded joy of Uttar Pradesh's lower castes.
As a child of the lowly Nishad castes she fought for her father's land rights--an unprecedented action for a woman. Her subsequent refusal to tolerate an arranged marriage put her beyond the pale, and as a punishment she was kidnapped by a dacoit (bandit) gang. Many would not survive such brutality, but within a year Phoolan emerged as the leader of her own band, and soon became one of the region's most notorious bandits.
In revenge for the murder of her lover, and her own rape, she is said to have been responsible for the murder of 22 high-caste Hindu men. Phoolan made powerful enemies, and the police net closed in on her until she finally surrendered--on her own terms, in front of thousands of people--in 1983. She faced 55 criminal charges, including murder, and was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail.
But she was now a political pawn, and it was not until February 1994 that Phoolan was finally relased, to the discomfort of many high-caste Thakurs, and the unbounded joy of Uttar Pradesh's lower castes.
270 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 13, 2010
Im not quite finished with the book but feel like i can write a pretty accurate review. I was excited to fall upon this book on the street in my neighborhood, not only was it a free book but i had never read that much about the much lauded and revered Bandit Queen on India and was eager to learn more. Especially since it was complied from her "prison diaries". I think it is a good book, written by an female Indian journalist/writer who spent a significant amount of time with Phoolan Devi and her family during and after her incarceration. It includes some important gang history of India and makes some relevant religious parallels. She attempts to include the personal statements and histories of numerous perspectives on Phoolan Devi and the impact of dacoits in India (Phoolan herself, family, other gang members, police, and politicians). She places herself and her intentions in the story quite obviously and directly. Like i said, a well written and interesting book. Why only three stars? I felt that at times, it just dragged and could have used some more editing and she could have edited herself and her opinions in the story a little more. But a nice introduction to the Bandit Queen
June 19, 2015
Overall, a captivating story. I think I have a more recent book on Phoolan Devi, which I look forward to reading, since this book, at least my edition, ends in 1994, and I know that A LOT more happened in Phoolan Devi's life after that. Mala Sen incorporated a lot of sources, and sometimes the excerpts seemed way too long. It is nice to see those sources, but after a while they got tiresome for me. The most memorable thing I took from this book was when Phoolan Devi comments on "awareness" campaigns and how basically the women in India who were/are experiencing these horrible things don't really see any change thanks to efforts like that. In most cases they probably didn't even KNOW it was happening. That's a good lesson for today, too.
June 14, 2019
A well researched book about Phoolan Devi. I always like to read books & articles about the famous 'bandit queen' of contemporary India & so I chose to read Mala Sen's book. I am always inspired by Phoolan's story & the life she led. Kudos to the author for a well presented biography !
November 17, 2023
I have never felt like this after reading any other biographies! A true inspiration! I loved how she naturally rebelled against the suppressions. Wow!
November 21, 2024
After recently watching the excellent film, Bandit Queen, I read this book which was published in 1991, before Phoolan Devi was released from prison. The author interviewed the poster child of the lower caste and the movie is fairly true to the book.
Devi was sold to a much older man at the age of eleven and after escaping the marriage was repeatedly gang raped and she eventually hooked up with a travelling group of bandits who robbed the rich and gave to the poor.
The political infighting within the different castes continually battling to rule was not exactly entertaining to this American reader. Although made illegal, child brides are still quite common in India. Hindus and Muslims remain at odds and Devi was made a member of Parliament and was assassinated.
The film is better than the book.
Devi was sold to a much older man at the age of eleven and after escaping the marriage was repeatedly gang raped and she eventually hooked up with a travelling group of bandits who robbed the rich and gave to the poor.
The political infighting within the different castes continually battling to rule was not exactly entertaining to this American reader. Although made illegal, child brides are still quite common in India. Hindus and Muslims remain at odds and Devi was made a member of Parliament and was assassinated.
The film is better than the book.
January 15, 2024
เนื้อหาช่วงต้นเป็นเรื่องของนักข่าวที่ติดตามสัมภาษณ์ ผูลัน และบุคคลรอบข้างมากกว่า ครึ่งเรื่องหลังถึงเห็นภาพโดยรวมของผูลัน
เนื้อหาแสดงถึงปัญหาเรื่องวรรณะ และความไม่เท่าเทียมกันระหว่างวรรณะ ผู้ชาย ผู้หญิง ทำให้เกิดเป็นผูลัน ราชินีโจรขึ้นมา คงตอบเรื่องถูกผิดไม่ได้ทั้งหมด แต่อนาคตไม่ควรจะมีการแบ่งแยก หรือความเหลื่อมล้ำแบบนี้
เนื้อหาแสดงถึงปัญหาเรื่องวรรณะ และความไม่เท่าเทียมกันระหว่างวรรณะ ผู้ชาย ผู้หญิง ทำให้เกิดเป็นผูลัน ราชินีโจรขึ้นมา คงตอบเรื่องถูกผิดไม่ได้ทั้งหมด แต่อนาคตไม่ควรจะมีการแบ่งแยก หรือความเหลื่อมล้ำแบบนี้
June 21, 2018
Loved it - it was on a favorites list of Gregory David Roberts and his 2 books - Shantaram and
the Mountain Shadow are my personal favorites......Absolutely fantastic reads - all 3.....and I have read them multiple times......
the Mountain Shadow are my personal favorites......Absolutely fantastic reads - all 3.....and I have read them multiple times......
October 15, 2019
I loved this book. Women of her village seem to be treated as disposable. Phoolan had zero to lose. So much story for such a young girl. She was used and deceived at every turn by almost every man she crossed paths with.
Read
April 28, 2020very interesting reading true life of bandit queen.
October 25, 2020
Avertissement : mention de viol
C'est une biographie de Phoolan Devi, dont je connaissais sa vie grâce au chapitre des Culottées tome 2 qui lui était consacré. Jeune Indienne de la caste des Sudra, elle est mariée de force, violée, capturée par des bandits, violée, puis elle finit par diriger ces mêmes bandits. Lorsqu’elle est de nouveau capturée et subit un viol collectif, elle se venge en faisant tuer 22 membres de la caste supérieure, ce qui provoque un tollé dans le pays.
Dans sa biographie, on a une double histoire : celle de Phoolan Devi, mais aussi celle de la journaliste Mala Sen et de son parcours pour découvrir la vérité. Elle rencontre la bandit en prison, et lorsqu’on lui interdit de la revoir, elle demande à la prisonnière de dicter son récit à des complices – Phoolan Devi est illettrée – et pendant ce temps, elle voyage pour interviewer toutes les personnes qui l’ont fréquentée.
C’était très intéressant, mais dépourvu d’émotions. J’ai commencé à décrocher vers la moitié, lorsqu’on avait moins le récit de Mala Sen et plus celui de la « Reine des Bandits ». Le style narratif tuait tout suspense dans les combats… ce n’est pas le but de l’ouvrage, après tout.
Ce qui est intéressant d’un point de vue historique, c’est que Mala Sen confronte les différentes versions de l’Histoire : celle des politicien·nes, celle de Phoolan Devi, celle de la police, celle des villageois·es, celle des castes supérieures… On se rend compte de la propagande du gouvernement, mais aussi des changements d’opinion publique, puisque même des personnes qui autrefois redoutaient Phoolan l’érigent par la suite en héroïne !
C’est loin d’être un coup de cœur et j’ai dû me forcer à lire sur le dernier quart, mais c’était néanmoins très intéressant.
Lu pour le Asian Readathon : https://elainevker.com/blog/2020/06/0...
C'est une biographie de Phoolan Devi, dont je connaissais sa vie grâce au chapitre des Culottées tome 2 qui lui était consacré. Jeune Indienne de la caste des Sudra, elle est mariée de force, violée, capturée par des bandits, violée, puis elle finit par diriger ces mêmes bandits. Lorsqu’elle est de nouveau capturée et subit un viol collectif, elle se venge en faisant tuer 22 membres de la caste supérieure, ce qui provoque un tollé dans le pays.
Dans sa biographie, on a une double histoire : celle de Phoolan Devi, mais aussi celle de la journaliste Mala Sen et de son parcours pour découvrir la vérité. Elle rencontre la bandit en prison, et lorsqu’on lui interdit de la revoir, elle demande à la prisonnière de dicter son récit à des complices – Phoolan Devi est illettrée – et pendant ce temps, elle voyage pour interviewer toutes les personnes qui l’ont fréquentée.
C’était très intéressant, mais dépourvu d’émotions. J’ai commencé à décrocher vers la moitié, lorsqu’on avait moins le récit de Mala Sen et plus celui de la « Reine des Bandits ». Le style narratif tuait tout suspense dans les combats… ce n’est pas le but de l’ouvrage, après tout.
Ce qui est intéressant d’un point de vue historique, c’est que Mala Sen confronte les différentes versions de l’Histoire : celle des politicien·nes, celle de Phoolan Devi, celle de la police, celle des villageois·es, celle des castes supérieures… On se rend compte de la propagande du gouvernement, mais aussi des changements d’opinion publique, puisque même des personnes qui autrefois redoutaient Phoolan l’érigent par la suite en héroïne !
C’est loin d’être un coup de cœur et j’ai dû me forcer à lire sur le dernier quart, mais c’était néanmoins très intéressant.
Lu pour le Asian Readathon : https://elainevker.com/blog/2020/06/0...
June 2, 2021
A perfect book to start the year. India's Bandit Queen stands amidst the actual violence that Phoolan Devi has done but explains the actual reason of why the violence was caused. A perfect example of sync between the cause effect relationship in terms of oppression done to a person and her violent attitude.
Loved it!
Loved it!
January 12, 2013
An amazing story of the India we chose to ignore.
April 28, 2013
Awesome read.
July 11, 2013
So inspirational and an excellent revenge story.
June 12, 2014
Though violent, this story gave an exceptional insight into the prejudices and difficulties for women in rural India.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews