God's Own Constituency (6)

                        Bhadohi celebrates Bandit Queen's Win

                        Varanasi May 12, 1996. From Chambal ravines to the Parliament Phoolan Devi has traversed an eventful road all in the  glare of high media blitz. By electing the former dacoit as their representative , electorate of Bhadohi- Mirzapur has given Phoolan the respectability and acceptability she craved for to shed off her past.

                             The towns and villages of Bhadohi-Mirzapur , spread on the either sides of Ganga, witnessed scene of prolonged festivity after Phoolan's win as people celebrated the march of "our woman in Parliament".

                            Born on July 15,1957 (?), in a small village of Mallah (boatman) community in Jalaun district, Phoolan who was once sought after by police, may have never dreamt that one day she will be in amid the august gathering in the Parliament. For that matter, she had seldom hoped that she would ever be able to come out of Chambal-Yamuna ravines or escape the bullets of rival dacoit gangs or the police.

                            Phoolan, the second daughter of Devi Deen and Bhola Devi in a family of four sisters and one brother, was married at an early age to a person many year older than her. This mismatched marriage brought an unending trauma to her- continuous displacement and exploitation, physical and mental- that finally sent Phoolan to Chambal-Yamuna ravines.

                            Phoolan was a major challenge for the police forces of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and used to strike ruthlessly on her rival gangs. According to police records on February 14, 1981, her gang was responsible for the murder of more than 15 people at Behmai village in Kanpur dehat district, apparently in a retaliation of humiliation heaped on her by village toughs.

                           Increasing police pressure and serious threat from rival gangs forced her to surrender before the then Chief Minister Arjun Singh on February 12, 1983. Phoolan placed her rifle before the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and bade farewell to arms. 

                           She spent 11 years in various jails, urging the government to fulfill her 27 demands which according to her were accepted by the government to make her surrender. Though until 1994 her appeal for release from jail went in vain, during this period she became one of the most sought after themes for writers and film makers.

                           Many books, including a biography of Phoolan by French author Irene Frain, were published and a film Bandit Queen made waves around the world. Phoolan, however, was unhappy over her depiction in the film which according to her was outrageous. 

                           Chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav withdrew all cases against Phoolan in 1994 paving way for her release. Ummed Singh, a social worker fro Delhi, came in contact with Phoolan, when she was still in Tihar jail and married her once she was out of jail. Taking a few lessons from her understanding of social conditions of the villages of Bundelkhand region, she organised the "Eklavya Sena"( named after the deserted pupil of Acharya Dronna of Mahabharat). The Sena has been engaged in highlighting the problems of the weaker sections.

                           Mulayam Singh Yadav selected Phoolan as the candidate fro Bhadohi-Mirzapur for 1996 elections with an eye on Mallah (boatmen) votes which are sizable in the gangetic belt. The strategy worked ensuring Phoolan's victory.

                           During electioneering , there were moment of caste tension in the constituency, especially when effort were made to bring a "Vidhwa Rath"(widow carriage), from Bahmai to Mirzapur. The Rath was stopped and Phoolan herself explained that she had no enmity with any caste.

                           Popularly known as "mullah ki beti" (daughter of a boatman) Phoolan has brought a sense of pride for the whole community.  Her expertise in swimming effortlessly enabled her to survive the bullets of police and rival gangs on many occasions.She is confident that now in the political stream too she will have a smooth sail. 

                            Fast Forward 

          March-April 1998: Phoolan was defeated in a Mid-Term poll

          October-   1999:  Phoolan reelected in a Mid term poll

          July 25-    2001: Phoolan was assassinated at her official residence in 

                             New Delhi. Nation mourned her death.