01 October,2010 10:20 AM IST | | Sheena Thomas
When Roy Moxham sent Phoolan Devi a letter while she was in jail, he certainly wasn't expecting a reply. He was rather surprised to hear from her, and that letter was the start of a long correspondence that resulted in a deep friendship and a subsequent book.
The recently released Outlaw -- India's Bandit Queen and Me, reveals the vulnerable side of Phoolan Devi. CS talks to the writer to know more about his buddy, the Bandit Queen:
Freedom!
Phoolan and I exchanged a few letters while she was in jail. She was eventually released in 1994 and that's when I got a chance to meet her. I started visiting India every year then and put up at her place whenever I was here. I found her to be very warm and friendly.
Phoolan had heard that the elderly in UK weren't treated too well so she offered to look after me when I grew old. She led a simple life -- she would sweep the house and cook (though I don't think she was a great cook).
Pen pals
I never thought that I would pen a book on Phoolan. The reason I retained all our correspondence was because I thought that I could one day give it all to the British Library since she was such a historic figure. I'm glad that I've been able to immortalise her in the pages of history.
