A delightful bit of banditry

I can’t remember which Bad Girl recommended The Bandit Queens for our October book, but when I find out, I am going to thank her profusely, because this was a delightful read.

As described on the cover…

“Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him—he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it’s a rumor that just won’t die.

“It turns out that being known as a ‘self-made’ widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control her. It’s even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry.

“Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her ‘expertise’, making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal.

“And not all of them are asking nicely.

“With Geeta’s dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she’s built—but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village.”

Geeta (as well, obviously, as the author) takes inspiration from the life of Phoolan Devi, the original Bandit Queen – a lower caste woman who rose to fame in the 1980s. Her story was turned into a film (banned in India) which I saw when it came out in the mid-1990s. It’s a brutal film about a brutalised woman who took her revenge – a searing indictment of the misogyny that remains rampant in India. The film premiered after her release from prison, but before she was elected to parliament (twice) and before she was shot and killed on her own doorstep at the age of 38. (Do click on that link for a fuller story of her life.)

Shroff’s female characters are victims of that every day misogyny and they, too, are ready for revenge. It’s a shameful topic which is treated with great warmth and surprising humour. (I was laughing out loud while reading the final showdown.)

I am loath to highly recommend watching the film Bandit Queen. There are scenes in it that are really quite traumatising.

I have no such hesitation in recommending you read The Bandit Queens. It is, as I’ve already said, simply delightful.