Review: The Bandit Queens

 

Title: The Bandit Queens

Author:  Parini Shroff

Release Date: Jan 17, 2023

Disclaimer: I read an ARC via Netgalley

 

               The title of Shroff’s solid debut comes from the woman Phoolan Devi who among other things was a child bride before joining a gang, where she was eventually raped.  She took control of another gang and set out to get revenge.  She spent time in jail and eventually was elected to Parliament.  Her story doesn’t seem to be one of an oppressed gender getting justice on her own but also of caste. 

               If you are going to reference Phoolan Devi in your title, your book has a big image to fill.

               The Bandit Queens actually does a pretty good job of filling this image.

               The novel largely follows Geeta, a woman in her thirties who is somewhat an outcast in her village because the rumor is she killed her husband who just simply disappeared one day.  Geeta is part of a woman’s business group, a group that includes her once close friend Saloni, but they aren’t exactly friends.  At the beginning of the book Geeta is a seething mass of anger, sometimes heavily banked anger, but anger at everything around her.  This changes when one of the women, Farah, asks Geeta for help with killing her abusive husband.  Then things snowball somewhat.

               The first half of the book is the weaker part.  In part this is because of Geeta.  It isn’t that Geeta is not likable.  It’s just that at first she comes out as bitter and angry, but the stories she tells about her past and by degree some of the other women seem to be very obviously missing crucial key points.  This causes the reader to wonder why Geeta doesn’t quite see.  .  It  makes the first few chapters tough to read because Geeta is not kind and very judgmental without realizing her own role in things (for instance, her insulting Solani who has gained weight after giving birth to children).  This is even compounded when Geeta’s first break in her reserve/outcast status occurs when she develops a friendship with a man.  It almost feels like in this section that Geeta is the only good or exemplary woman in the village. 

               Part of this seems to have been done to showcase how the patriarchy, in whatever country, reinforces in a variety of ways that women should not band together or be friends.  And reasons are given in later part of the book for Geeta’s earlier reactions and thoughts.  Yet it does make the first part of the book less interesting. 

               Once Geeta does starting interacting with the other woman, and not just Farah, the book does take off.  There is also far more wit and brilliance in the conversation – this is especially true for the climax.  The best thing about this book are those conversations because there is such a natural flow and rhythm to them.

               Another good thing about the book is the use of language.  Words and expressions are not rendered in English.  Sometimes, Shroff does provide context later in the same scene in a way that does feel natural; when this is impossible, she does not.  This is really does bring the setting home.  There are also instances where Geeta challenges West/American view of India – for instance, there are Geeta’s thoughts about the village toilets and how man, in whatever country, will pee anywhere.  While some of the obstacles that the women face are regional – for instance acid attacks – a great many are not – all you have to do is see how women who are childless are treated by society or look at the gender reveal videos where the father and/or mother stomps off because it is a girl.   The book is both regional and international.

               While this debut novel is not perfect – there are places that could use a little trimming, the first half is a bit weak – it is an enjoyable, heartfelt read.