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

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.