Phoolan Devi (1963–2001)

The title gives away what this autobiography is about. It is the story of Phoolan Devi, a Robinhood-like figure who was active in the plains and badlands along the Yamuna River throughout the 1980's.

Devi's childhood is tragic. Her nuclear family is held under her uncle's yoke. They are also subject to the directives of the upper-caste that shares their village. In this atmosphere, Devi is harassed and beaten. As a young girl, she is disappointed that her father never pushes back against show more their poor treatment. When he marries her to an old man in a neighboring village, she is raped. She escapes back to her home but the abuses continues. She is beaten and raped again and again, even by police officers after she complains about her uncle. All of this leads to Devi joining a band of dacoits, traditional Indian bandits. She details the politics of dacoits that operate in her area and the leadership structures of them, in addition to talking about raids and charity.

This book was written when Devi became a legislator, shortly before she was assassinated, but there is no information about her political career.

Except for her own story, there is no redemption here. Devi's life is unfailingly tragic. It is a tragedy that she believes is repeated in so many villages across the country. show less

This autobiography of a woman who rose to become a member of the Parliament of India details her horrific childhood of poverty and abuse. Transcribed from an oral
account of her life, she recounts her mother’s total lack of concern for her and her father’s hesitation to stand up to anyone, allowing others to cheat and take advantage of him. Married at the age of eleven to a man who says he will have her only cook, clean and do household tasks until she reaches puberty, she suffers show more terrible rape and eventually returns to her parents’ home in disgrace. Continuing to rebel when her uncle cheats her father, she leaves home and joins a bandit gang, becoming a leader with a man who loves her. Wreaking vengeance on upper class men who rape and abuse women in their villages, she becomes a hero to lower-caste women in her area of India. Betrayed after her lover’s murder, she survives vicious attacks by upper class men to escape, form a new gang and return to the village where she was attacked, executing many of the men responsible. After negotiating her surrender, she served a prison term, was elected to Parliament upon her release but was later assassinated. Phoolan still remains a folk hero in her home state and especially to women in India. At almost 500 pages, this long book includes incredible details of the lives of girls and women in villages in India, especially where the caste system still holds sway. Phoolan’s strength of character stands as an example of how an individual can use her life to improve that of others.

E. Goldstein-Erickson show less

No idea how to rate this one. An incredible life, the documentation of which was itself an incredible undertaking. Among one of the many take-aways: I have no right to complain about a single thing. Not one.

Thoroughly engaging!