She was the exception

Sir, - Mr. S. Charuhasan in his letter (July 30) was right in saying that criminalisation of politics should end. Even the notorious Veerappan is willing to join politics where a number of criminals are already enjoying the privileges of political life. But Phoolan Devi's case is an exception; for this, our judicial system and society are equally responsible.

Thousands of Phoolans are being raped by upper caste men every year, especially in northern India, and the police cannot take any action against them because they are land-lords and have close contacts in Delhi. Phoolan took to arms because she had lost her faith in the judiciary.

Till today the police have not arrested her tormenters who gang- raped her. She did not commit suicide after this horrible experience. Rather, owning responsibility for the killing of 20 Thakurs of Behmai, she surrendered. It was perhaps legally a wrong act but morally she awakened crores of Dalits who have been exploited for centuries.

Deepak Yadav,

Kanavani, Jaunpur dt., U.P.

* * *

Sir, - The recurrent acts of exploitation, discrimination and inhumanism in the name of caste, class and gender, that Phoolan Devi was witness to since her early childhood would have affected her. Add to this the total apathy of the administration which always seems to be on the side of the powerful and also the delays in the judiciary, the picture is complete.

True, this is nearly the tale of most disadvantaged communities in India but, in Phoolan's case, there was an equally tragic personal dimension. It is also fair to assume that most women in Phoolan's place would have accepted all these humiliations as a matter of fate.

However, Phoolan's personal constitution and the tide of circumstances took her to the path of revolt. It is too much to expect the spirituality of non-violence to be appreciated in situations such as these.

Regarding Phoolan Devi's becoming a Member of Parliament we should bear in mind that she had made a conscious effort to give up her past life before joining politics. She had given herself up to the police and then spent long years in jail.

Let us consider for instance the cases of surrendered militants in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura, who had availed themselves of the general amnesty granted by the Governments and would have by this rehabilitated themselves in the national mainstream. Can anyone deny them the right to stand in elections if they wish?

I hope that the readers who have been expressing indignation at Phoolan Devi joining politics, her becoming an MP and finally, the fact that homage was paid by senior leaders of this country after her tragic death, would see things in a different light.

Subhashis Roy,

Udyogamandal, Kerala

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