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Why every woman should know about Phoolan Devi?

The infamous dacoit from Chambal was a rebel against caste. Abuse, rape, shocking acts of violence, systemic patriarchal oppression, her ongoing struggle to overcome it to become a lawmaker, and, to top it all off, assassination are all part of her life's tale.

It's vital to shed focus on historically marginalized individuals, and many amazing women sadly have a part in that. The growth of women in a culture where patriarchy was pervasive and oppression was the norm is demonstrated by some of these women, who are by no means role models. Without a doubt, Phoolan Devi's tale merits spreading. Phoolan Devi sometimes referred to as the "Bandit Queen," was an infamous lady in India. While horrific and horrifying things were done to her throughout her brief life, she accomplished incredible things, such as rising to the rank of a politician in India despite being of a low caste.

The infamous dacoit from Chambal was a rebel against caste. Abuse, rape, shocking acts of violence, systemic patriarchal oppression, her ongoing struggle to overcome it to become a lawmaker, and, to top it all off, assassination are all part of her life's tale.

For a bicycle and a cow, the 11-year-old was married off to a man who was more than three times her age on August 10, 1963, in Ghura Ka Purwa, Uttar Pradesh. And all of that occurred due to her protests against her cousin stealing family property.

 

 

She returned to her mother's family with an unborn child after a year of abuse but was rejected.

But if you believe this is the worst of her issues, you couldn't be more mistaken. Dacoits broke into her home in July 1979 and abducted her.

 

Babu Gujjar, who served as their commander, then sexually assaulted her for the following 72 hours. On the fourth day, the gang member of lower caste Vikram Mallah shot and killed Gujjar.

Later, as payback for killing Gujjar, two of the gang's upper-caste members, Shri Ram and Lala Ram, killed Mallah.

 

 

After that, she was taken again after being tossed from a boat. She was brought to Behmai in Uttar Pradesh this time, where Thakur men alternated raping her till she passed out.

Before she could escape and rejoin her previous band of dacoits, they sexually assaulted her for three weeks.

It's significant to note that she remained silent about this event.

A few months later, Devi and her gang returned to Behamai, where they persuaded the locals to turn over the two men who had assassinated Mallah and abducted her.

 

 

She ordered 30 men to kneel in a single file, and when the villagers refused, she opened fire. In the firing, 22 of them died. That day she earned the title "Devi," which inspired respect and dread in people.

A few years later, Phoolan Devi surrendered herself. She was imprisoned for the following 11 months but was never charged with the killings. She was given a ticket by the Samajwadi Party in 1992 to run from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, winning.

She established the Eklavya Sena to train people from lower-caste groups in self-defense. In 1999, she secured a second term.

 

She was murdered in 2001 by Sher Singh Rana while sitting as a Member of the Parliament at age 37 because the Behmai slaughter infuriated upper-caste egos.

The life of Phoolan Devi exemplifies the ongoing struggles of women, particularly in nations like India, where gender equality is not the norm, and caste systems act as barriers to equality for all. Although this is not a cheerful story, it is important to share. Devi was a woman who stood in for many other low-caste women in India who appeared helpless. Devi stood out because she sought what she saw to be justice by fighting against the rules. The Bandit Queen lives on.