Phoolan Devi (1963–2001)

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 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… (meer)