I, PHOOLAN DEVI The Autobiography of India's Bandit Queen

Devi (Phoolan) with Cuny (Marie-Therese) & Rambali (Paul)

ISBN 10: 0751519642 / ISBN 13: 9780751519648

Published by Warner Books, 1997

About this Item

Paperback. A female Robin Hood, a modern day Count of Monte Cristo - Phoolan Devi, the notorious Bandit Queen of India, became a legend. Enduring cruel poverty and degradation, Phoolan Devi survived the humiliation of an abusive marriage, the savage killing of her bandit-lover and horrifying gang rape to claim retribution for herself and all low-caste women of the Indian plains. In a 3yr campaign which rocked the government, she delivered justice to rape victims and stole from the rich to give to the poor, before negotiating surrender on her own terms. Throughout her years of imprisonment without trial Phoolan Devi remained a beacon of hope for the poor and downtrodden, and in 1996 amidst both popular support and media controversy, she was elected to the Indian Parliament. On July 25, 2001 Phoolan Devi was murdered by former rival bandits. Some social workers in India, especially showing tilt towards the Depressed Classes, consider her as the beginning of Dalit's retaliation against the cruelty being done by Caste Hindus. Illus. + Map, Epilogue and Some Hindi Terms. 504pp. p/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. V.v. lightly browned pp., o/w Nr. F. with no creasing to covers. Seller Inventory # 16075

Bibliographic Details

Title: I, PHOOLAN DEVI The Autobiography of India's...

Publisher: Warner Books

Publication Date: 1997

Binding: Softcover / Paperback

Condition: Fine

Edition: First edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

Phoolan Devi was born into a poor, low-caste family in Uttar Pradesh, living in a world that gave more respect to a stray dog than to a woman. At 11, she was married off and endured beatings, rapes and persecution. She survived being kidnapped by bandits and became one of them, learning how to shoot like a man. She also found love for the first time, but her lover was brutally murdered. Without his protection, she was paraded naked through villages and gang-raped; but she survived and for three years claimed retribution for herself and all low-caste women, before negotiating her own surrender. After 11 years in prison, she is now free to tell her own story.

Review:

Vivid and moving ... a remarkable story * Financial Times * A stunning tale, and all the more amazing for being true. It will make you cry, it will also make you cheer * Jan Goodwin * No reader can fail to be on her side * The Times *