In a new book, British author Roy Moxham recalls his unlikely friendship with Chambal's most-feared dacoit Phoolan Devi. Sunday Mid Day gets a first
In a new book, British author Roy Moxham recalls his unlikely friendship with Chambal's most-feared dacoit Phoolan Devi. Sunday Mid Day gets a first
One morning in June 1992, an English author wrote to an Indian bandit. Surprisingly enough, she received the letter, and more surprisingly, she replied. Thus began the unlikely friendship between Roy Moxham and Phoolan Devi. Over the course of nearly a decade, the duo met a few times, exchanged stories about their lives across separate continents, and came close enough for Phoolan to call Moxham her 'Brother'. In his just released book, Outlaw: India's Bandit Queen and Me, Moxham shares notes on India's much-feared dacoit who passed away in 2001.
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What was running through your mind when you first wrote to Phoolan Devi?u00a0
Our original relationship I wrote to Phoolan on an impulse. I had read that morning in 1992 of her standing for a parliamentary by-election, to draw attention to her plight and to seek a voice for the poor. The article had a summary of her troubled past. I felt Phoolan's life had been trying. She had surrendered on the promise that she would be released after eight years in jail, but that's not how things unfolded. Later, even I was amazed that I had written to her. I didn't think it likely that she'd receive the letter, let alone reply. But she did.
What would you call the relationship?
Our original relationship was one in which I gave her money for legal fees and advice. I reassured her when she thought she might be hanged to death; I sent medical advice from my doctor brother. Most of all, I urged her to follow the advice of her lawyer, Kamini Jaiswal, which at times she was inclined to ignore. Later on, after I met her, our relationship changed to one of friendship.
What did Phoolan and you talk about, when it wasn't about her entering politics, or fighting the court case?
Like everyone else, we talked about the people around us -- who we liked and who we did not; who could be trusted. We talked of life in Europe and the position of women there. I have an agricultural background, so we often talked about crops and her smallholding.
What did she joke about, what made her laugh?u00a0
Phoolan could be very amusing about some of the people she met -- especially politicians. She would also poke fun at what she regarded as the ridiculous antics and fashions of some of the leisured women she encountered.
You've talked of how you watched Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen and asked Phoolan not to watch it... why?
As I point out in my book, I never watched the film until last year, when it was necessary for me to check what I was writing about. My principle reason was that I did not want to watch scenes depicting the rape of a friend. I think it's wrong to show rape scenes of those who are still alive. The story has been manipulated to show how Phoolan's troubles orginated from upper-caste members, while in fact, it was her own relatives from the same low caste as her, but financially better off, who were responsible. I do not regard the film to be a true account of Phoolan's life.
Were you ever intimidated by her? Did you ever think, this woman has massacred people?
Well, of course, it crossed my mind. However, it seems to me that the police and the justice system in most of India is so corrupt that it cannot be relied on to protect the vulnerable. Can they be blamed for taking the law into their own hands, then? Personally, I never found Phoolan intimidating. She was extremely respectful and kind to me.
Are you in touch with her family?
I am no longer in touch with her family. The family feuds after Phoolan's assassination, when there were allegations of involvement in her death and fights to seize her assets, shocked and saddened me.
What is it about her that you remember the most?
I remember meeting her for the first time. She had been released from jail that week. You can feel sympathy for someone who has been in trouble, but they may not necessarily turn out to be nice. When I saw this tiny woman in front of me, with a broad smile, I immediately sensed that we would become close friends.
If not for her untimely death, do you think she would have made headway into Indian politics?
A difficult question. As a British Prime Minister said, 'a week is a long time in politics.' I do believe, that whether inside formal politics or not, Phoolan would have continued the fight for the poor, especially for women.
Extracts from Outlaw: India's Bandit Queen and Me
(From the first letter Phoolan wrote to Moxham, in reply to his letter in June 1992)
Hail God
To Mr Roy from Phoolan -- a lot of thanks.
Received your letter -- I felt so happy I cannot express it in words. It is very good of you to have given respect to a woman like me. I am myself helpless and destitute -- whatever I had was spent in the election. I don't have a rupee for court fees. In India lawyers are very costly. Also in India no one listens to women. Nobody cares to give them justice. Sometimes, I curse God that I was born in a place like India. When I die, I shall be reborn in London, or some other such place, where women are given equality. Due to being a woman I am not able to get justice. I don't think I shall ever receive justice.
I know you will definitely help me. I received your letter at a time when I had lost all hope in life. At such a time, reading your letter gave me the will to live. That is all. My heartfelt good wishes to you and your friends.
Chambal's most feared dacoit in an unusual shot at domesticity,
Phoolan Devi sweeps her New Delhi home 
After playing Holi with Phoolan Devi in Delhi, 1994
(From a letter dated April, 1993)
Victory to Goddess Durga
Respected Mr Roy Moxham, greetings from Phoolan. I was very happy to read your letter...u00a0u00a0u00a0
... I felt sad when I read your letter that you did not get married at the right time and have children, who are the only support in old age. Brother, you are really like me -- I never married and had children. Still, I am happy you have a girlfriend and consider her my sister-in-law. Give her my greetings and thanks. Brother, if with your good wishes I am freed, I will praise you, do whatever I can for you and see that you are not alone, Brother.
(Roy Moxham on the first time he met Phoolan Devi in 1994, at Old Gupta Colony in New Delhi)
Phoolan Devi was a much smaller woman than I had imagined. She must have been less than five feet tall. She was also very thin -- not at all like in the photos taken at her surrender eleven years previously. It was difficult to imagine her carrying a heavy weapon. Prison had transformed her physique. Nevertheless, she looked amazingly well and happy, and delighted to see me.
Phoolan was wearing a simple pink sari, draped with a heavy maroon shawl, small gold earrings, glass bangles and silver rings on all the fingers of her right hand. Her intensely black hair straggled over her neck, and her face was continually lit up by a broad smile. Although she was supposedly thirty-two or more, she looked somewhat younger. The bodyguard had fair English. With him interpreting, we were soon exchanging rather stilted greetings and compliments. She was obviously very touched, and slightly bewildered, by my assistance.
Phoolan Devi's mother Moola, in their Delhi residence with pet Great
Dane Jackie
Phoolan Devi welcomes Roy Moxham into her Delhi home with a
traditional tilak
(When Moxham played Holi with Phoolan and friends during his 1994 visit to New Delhi)
I was woken from my bed at 6 a.m. by the lights being switched on. Thereafter, there was much coming and going and it was impossible for me to get back to sleep. So I filled my water pistol with dye and used it to wake up those who were still asleep. Somewhat to my surprise, they loved it. I gave the women their saris. Everyone, especially Phoolan, was very pleased.
Then it was madness, with pigment and with dye. Everyone was attacked; everywhere was awash. Children and adults used pails, syringes, and plastic-bag 'bombs.' I looked outside and saw that it was even wilder. The next-door yard was swimming in dye. Foolishly, I stepped outside. I was immediately attacked and had to take refuge in the police tent. By noon it was mostly over. I showered and changed, but some annoyingly late visitors then drenched me with dye again. I had no clean clothes left.
Outlaw: India's Bandit Queen and Me is published by Random House. Priced at Rs 599
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