Phoolan Devi is one of those women who, as I read her story, just left my jaw on the floor. Badass almost feels like a bit of an understatement.
A young girl, born into poverty in rural India, her life already marked by struggle. By the time she was a teenager, she had been married off, abused, and cast aside. But Phoolan Devi wasn’t about to let her story end there. She became a rebel, a bandit, and eventually, a symbol of resistance for millions. And you all know how I love my symbols of resistance.
Phoolan’s early life was a series of injustices. Born in 1963 in Uttar Pradesh, she was married off at 11 to a man more than twice her age. When she fled the abusive marriage, her family rejected her, and she was left to fend for herself. By 16, she had been kidnapped by a gang of bandits. But Phoolan didn’t just survive—she adapted. She learned to wield a rifle, to lead, and to fight back.
She became known as the “Bandit Queen,” a title that captured both her notoriety and her defiance. Phoolan and her gang targeted upper-caste landowners, redistributing wealth to the poor and earning her the admiration of many. But her life took a dark turn in 1981, when she was brutally gang-raped by upper-caste men in the village of Behmai. In retaliation, Phoolan led her gang back to the village, where 22 men were killed. The massacre made her a legend—and a fugitive.
For years, Phoolan evaded capture, becoming a folk hero to the oppressed and a thorn in the side of the powerful. In 1983, she surrendered to authorities in a dramatic public ceremony, negotiating terms that included a reduced sentence. After 11 years in prison, she was released and entered politics, winning a seat in India’s parliament in 1996.
Phoolan’s political career was as controversial as her life. She fought for the rights of women, lower castes, and the poor, but her past always loomed large. In 2001, she was assassinated by a man seeking revenge for the Behmai massacre.
What stands out most about Phoolan Devi is her refusal to be broken. She endured unimaginable hardship, but she never let it define her. She fought back, not just for herself, but for others who had been silenced.
Phoolan’s story is a reminder that resilience isn’t about avoiding pain; it’s about rising above it. It’s about standing up for what’s right, even when the cost is unimaginably high. It’s about refusing to let the world tell you who you are.
So, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s remember Phoolan Devi—not as a bandit or a martyr, but as a woman who dared to fight back. She was a rebel, a leader, and a legend. And honestly, we could all use a little more of her fearless spirit in our lives.
Phoolan, thank you for showing us how to rise above.
