"Her life was a story of rebellion and successful defiance against oppression and exploitation," he said in a statement. Narayanan condemned her attackers and hailed her for the progress she made. She was defeated in a 1998 election, but true to the theme of her life, made a comeback in 1999. She proved to be a popular and feisty public speaker, and became a member of the lower house of parliament in 1996. She was released on parole in 1994 after other charges against her in Uttar Pradesh were dropped, and she joined the regional Samajwadi Party, which represents low castes. The romance she had with a fellow bandit in her 10 years on the lam also became part of the movie about her.ĭevi always denied taking part in the massacre in Behmai, but nevertheless surrendered to police in the central state of Madhya Pradesh in 1983. The press followed her eagerly, and countless books were also written about her.
Her mystique grew especially since no one had ever seen her, and she gained a reputation as a Robin Hood-like figure. It was believed that this was Devi's act of revenge for the wrongs she suffered as a youth. She rose to notoriety in 1981 when 22 upper-caste men were massacred in the Uttar Pradesh village of Behmai, in what has become known as the St. This forced her to leave home, and she joined a band of criminals who roamed the countryside killing and looting people.