HarperCollins presents The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

HarperCollins has recently released Parini Shroff’s book “The Bandit Queens,” which tells the stories of several women who have led rebellions and insurgencies against the Indian government. The book explores the lives of these women and their motivations for turning to a life of crime, as well as how they challenged traditional
gender roles and expectations.

Shroff’s book features interviews with several former bandit queens, including Phoolan Devi, who was the subject of the film “Bandit Queen” by Shekhar Kapur. Devi’s story is just one of the many in the book, which also highlights the experiences of other women who have fought for their rights and freedoms in a patriarchal society.

The Bandit Queens also examines the relationship between the state and these women, as well as the media’s portrayal of them as either heroic rebels or ruthless criminals. The book challenges these simplistic narratives and provides a more nuanced view of women’s lives and actions.

Shroff’s writing is engaging and empathetic, bringing these women’s stories to life with vivid detail and emotional resonance. She does not shy away from the violence and brutality of their actions but also shows the complex factors that led them to take up arms against the state.

–Staff Reporter