This book is loosely based on the Legend of Phoolan Devi who is known as "The Bandit Queen" in India. She endured poverty, an abusive marriage and a gang rape to claim retribution for herself and other impoverished women in her village. She led a three year campaign, to deliver justice to other rape victims, before negotiating a surrender on her terms. Throughtout her imprisonment without a trial, she remained a beacon of hope for the poor and impoverished.
In 1996, she was elected to parliament. In 2001, she was assassinated on the street in Delhi.
And so begins, Parini Shroff's version of this tantalizing tale of murder with a twist of revenge.
This eye catching cover sets the stage for a serious and at times hilarious, murder caper in a small Indian Village. Geeta lives a solitary life since her husband Ramesh walked out on her five years ago. Or, did he? The simmering mystery lurks in the background throughout the book.
Since the 'death' of her husband, Geeta is both revered and admired in this small Indian Village. When a woman in her Micro Loan group approaches her to 'assist' her in getting rid of her abusive husband, Geeta is labelled the Bandit Queen. As the women band together to fight the obstacles of abuse, a patriarchial society and poverty, the engrossing saga unfolds.
Filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, Parini Shroff's The Bandit Queens is a razor sharp debut of humor and heart, murder and mystery.
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