Sultana Daku — The Beloved Criminal
1920s in India were a time of turbulence. Sultana Daku/Decoit, although a seasoned criminal, was celebrated as a symbol of resistance.
Not much is known about Sultana Daku, but Sujit Sharaf’s 2009 historical novel The Confessions of Sultana Daku gives us a rich, mostly true insight into the man’s life. Belonging to a tribe whose way of life was to rob and loot others, he habitually shared it with the poor. This man was loved by many and feared by more. He was by no means perfect but was definitely more than a selfish criminal.
Ancestry of ‘Criminality’
Tribal ancestry ran thicker than blood for many Indians and for good reason. Sultana belonged to the Bhantu tribe, which typically lived in Uttar Pradesh. Descendants of the Prince of Mewar, the legend goes that one day, the Bhantu tribe will regain the helms of kinghood and be reinstated to their lost status.
Some families are known for their intelligence, some for their wealth. The Bhantu tribe was an extended family expert in the art of theft. The elders taught the ins and outs of…
