I would think it a real challenge to make a story about women suffering under abusive husbands and the difficulties of living in the caste system in India incredibly funny, but this book managed to do that. The humor is dark, but the characters (mostly women) are authentic, interesting and very relatable as they try to navigate the world of men while finding ways to advocate for themselves in a world that doesn’t want them to do much at all.
Geeta’s awful husband disappeared 5 years ago and when the people of her village think she killed him, well, she decides to let that rumor ride. She is using her newfound freedom to increase her meager savings and through micro-loans and a community of women is forging ahead with her own business. But when another woman in the village with an abusive husband wants help getting rid of her problem, Geeta has to decide how and if to get involved. She also must navigate the watchful eye of her childhood friend Saloni as they have spent their adult lives avoiding each other, having been torn apart by Geeta’s marriage. This book also has some comedy of errors and general shenanigans that give it authenticity in that people pushed out of their comfort zones often bumble and make mistakes: these aren’t assassins, but normal women trying to find peace.
Reading this book gave me a deeper exposure to Indian culture and the caste system. Also, because I was fascinated to discover that The Bandit Queen Geeta refers to is a real historical figure, I include some information about her, Phoolan Devi.
Phoolan Devi (10 August 1963 – 25 July 2001), popularly known as the Bandit Queen, was an Indian dacoit (bandit) who became a politician, serving as a member of parliament until her assassination.
Umed Singh commented “No one likes it when someone, especially a woman, from the lower classes rises and makes a name for herself” and her lawyer Kamini Jaiswal stated “This murder is the result of caste conflict. Rana (her murderer) claims he was motivated to take revenge upon her for her actions as a leader of a bandit gang that acted primarily against the higher castes in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Also, this is her autobiography:The Bandit Queen Of India: An Indian Woman’s Amazing Journey From Peasant To International Legend