|
The Ballad of the
Bandit Queen by R.W.Fullilove (Composed 30 Sept 2001) Come hither and listen while I retell a story, the legend of the Bandit Queen A reincarnation of the Goddess Shakti, a beauty in every Hindu man's dreams Her youth was a torment of rapings and beatings, but her spirit rose up to rebel Struck out at those men who'd suppress and deny her, though underneath just an innocent girl Born in a hamlet by the Yamuna River, in a region called Uttar Pradesh Her family were Mullahs, a lowly fisherman's caste, so she'd always be poor and repressed When barely eleven she was sold into marriage, the price just a bike and a cow Three-fold her age, he was brutal and he beat her, but she never succumbed to his power Chorus The Bandit Queen, Phoolan Devi, is riding again tonight In her khaki and denims, and bright red bandana, she's spoiling once more for a fight Her gang are all Mullahs and low-castes, poor peasants in need of a meal You high-caste Thakurs better lock up your doors, or Didi's bullets will make you squeal She finally broke free and trod a hard road, through the mountains to be with her kin But her family felt shame, couldn't welcome her back, seemed that being at home was a sin On the fringe of society, outcast and lonely, drawn into a lawless furl Looting and thieving, just barely surviving, what a life for an innocent girl? Abducted and taken with her lover Vikran, by some Thakurs who stole in by night They beat her and raped her, murdered her lover, high-caste thugs think such things are their right Violated, distraught, yet came through it stronger, as ring-leader soon she was crowned In the Cambal Ravines, the beautiful bandit, was sung, notorious and renowned Repeat chorus One Saint Valentine's day, her gang hit Behmai, planned as nought but a routine raid But seeing there those who had beaten and raped her, her revenge echoed way past Bombay Twenty two high-castes were taken that evening, dragged from their homes through the grime Their pleads were not harkened, their screams went unanswered, they all paid with their lives for that crime What an outrage that raised, a huge posse assembled, like Uttar Pradesh had never seen Didi knew the terrain like the back of her hand, so they never caught up with the queen She grew weary of running, each day testing her cunning, broke cover and brokered a deal After years on the run, 'neath a poster of Gandhi, she surrendered, but never did kneel Solo (over chorus) Banged-up in a black hole, for a decade or more, never once charged with a crime A sad destiny for a victim of high-caste, to rot there and serve out her time When at last they released her, boasted her infamy, campaigned for the rights of the poor With the votes of the Mullahs, the beautiful bandit, set out to strike the heart of their core Her message was simple, it struck many a-chord, revealing the source of their pain "Why is it my destiny to always be poor? They're no different, the same blood in their veins So lend your support, help me complete this triumph, over gender, caste and poverty" Once the ballots were counted, aghast stood the Thakurs, as Didi was elected MP Repeat chorus Over five very long years, such a thorn in their side, as she faced down their system of class But you could tell by her anger, impatience and passion, one day she'd catch up with her past The Thakurs still held sweet revenge in their hearts, for the dead men lost down that ravine An ambush one morning, a bullet clean through her head, put an end to the brave Bandit Queen Phoolan Devi was a portrait of courage, who denied and refuted her fate Rose high, high above those beaters and rapers, was the focus and curse of their hate To her critics a murderer, a notorious bandit and a puppet of corrupt demigods To her followers a hero, an innocent, a legend, who overcame such incredible odds Repeat chorus Slowly On the day she was mourned, all were out on the streets, to grieve or just bid her adieu Her low-caste supporters were all pushed aside, by the New Delhi Star's TV crew A strike was proclaimed for that saddest of days, so many could witness that scene The passing of a legend, the new Goddess Shakti, the beautiful and bold Bandit Queen Repeat chorus Final chorus Phoolan Devi, the beautiful bandit, is riding in Cambal tonight In her khaki and denims, and bright red bandana, she's spoiling again for a fight Her gang are all low-castes and peasants, but still ruling the hills and ravines Flying so high, you can hear them all singing, The Ballad of the Bandit Queen . . . repeat first chorus ad-lib to fade © R.W.Fullilove 2001 Email at rogerf@netcomuk.co.uk More of his Lyrics Back to the top OR  Phoolan Devi
Webbed by Philip McEldowney |