Thread by @thebahujana

Remembering the Bahujan Rebel Queen:
Honoring Phoolan Devi on her 60th Birth Anniversary. Her fearless spirit continues to inspire us. #PhoolanDevi60 #BahujanRebelQueen

Thread prepared by @lokeshbag67

Phoolan, born in a low caste, daughter of a poor fisherman, defied societal norms with courage. Phoolan was born into the Mallah caste, in the small village of Ghura Ka Purwa (also spelled Gorha ka Purwa) in Jalaun District, Uttar Pradesh.
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Phoolan remained unaware that their caste was the root cause of their poverty.
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Mayadin Mallah, her uncle's son proposed removing an aging Neem tree from their farmland to cultivate more lucrative crops.
While Phoolan’s father reluctantly agreed, this decision stirred something within the teenage Phoolan.
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Phoolan battled to secure the remaining meager land they owned, as well as the neem tree wood, the earnings from which were intended for her wedding.
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From these incidents emerged a fierce spirit in Phoolan. But after a few months they got her married. They got her married to Putti lal.
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Putti Lal was fat, wicked and an old man. He beat her in front of Villagers, including women, dragged her on the street and even Raped her. He even burned her with tongs.
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Shortly after her final sojourn in her husband’s house, in year 1979, Phoolan fell in with one such gang of dacoits. How exactly this happened is unclear. In her autobiography, she merely says “kismet ko yehi manzoor tha” (fate) that she become part of a gang of bandits.
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Whether it was kidnapping or her own folly, Phoolan had immediate cause for regret. The gang leader, Babu Gujjar, raped and brutalized her for three days.
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Phoolan was captured by the opposing faction and taken to the Rajput-majority village of Behmai, which was now home to various Rajput recruits, including Shri Ram and Lalla Ram.
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Behmai massacre.
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2 years following the massacre, Phoolan remained elusive to the police. The Indira Gandhi Govt. opted to initiate surrender negotiations. Phoolan's health had worsened significantly, & a majority of her gang members had met their demise – Phoolan decided to surrender.
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Individually, both Manyawar Kanshiram and Mulayam Singh Yadav extended their support to Phoolan Devi in her political journey. In 1994, The new Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, dropped all charges against her, propelling her into politics.
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In a radiant moment of transformation at Deeksha Bhoomi on February 15, 1995, Phoolan Devi chose to embrace Buddhism.
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Phoolan Devi embarked on a new chapter of her life by venturing into the realm of politics.
During her political journey, she started "Eklavya Sena" to fight domestic violence against women.
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A poetic tribute to Phoolan Devi's fierce defiance against patriarchy & exploitation, capturing the essence of her unyielding spirit.
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Happy birthday to our beloved Phoolan Devi.
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