“Before I was married, I thought the sound of bangles jangling on my forearms would be delightful. I looked forward to being able to wear bells around my ankles and silver necklaces around my neck, but not any more, not since I had learned what they represented for the man who gave them. A necklace was no prettier than a piece of rope that ties a goat to a tree, depriving it of freedom.”
– Phoolan Devi
Phoolan Devi, known as the Bandit Queen, the Bahujan revolutionary and Former member of Parliament was popular for her bravery. She became legendary for the ruthless revenge on her abusers and her fight for the oppressed castes in her village. Today, August 10th Marks the 57th birth anniversary of Phoolan Devi, literally flower goddess.
Phoolan Devi was married at the age of eleven to a ruthless man in exchange for a cow. She escaped after several years of the marriage and joined a gang of bandits. At 18, she was gang-raped by the Thakur men in Behmai for two weeks and left barren. Later she retaliated by killing 22 Thakur men. This provoked the entire country. She was charged with many cases and a massive police manhunt started but she couldn’t be located or captured.
In 1983, two years after the massacre, Phoolan Devi chose to surrender and she remained in prison 11 years.
In 1995, one year after her release, Phoolan stood for election to the 11th Lok Sabha from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. She contested the election as a member of the Samajwadi Party and won the election and served as an MP during the term of the 11th Lok Sabha.
In 2001, when she was only 37 year old, Phoolan Devi, the Bandit Queen was assassinated in revenge for the Thakur-Men she killed in Behmai Massacre. But Phoolan Devi inspires people as a firebrand who chose to fight against all odds.
“Sing of my deeds
Tell of my combats
How I fought the treacherous demons
Forgive my failings
And bestow on me peace”
Remembering Phoolan Devi, on her 57th birth anniversary.
