Sarfarosh Devi

It's all very confusing, that's what it is. There was a time in Mopullarpur when a dude knew a gangster when he saw one. It was a outdoor-type 30-something land-grabbing tambakoo-chewing male with a thick moustache and dressing reminiscent of modern day Bhojpuri heroes. But now everything is different. You can't tell a gangster from the neighbourhood Bhindiwala. One woman brought this change to Mopullarpur. Yes, you heard me right - One Woman ! Her name was Sarfarosh Devi.

Sarfarosh Tambde was just another homely but smart chick when her family first moved to Mopullarpur. She was your stereotype bharatiya naari - go to college just to bunk classes, pretend to help her mom with the household chores and cry uncontrollably with the protagonists in the Saas bahu soaps. Very soon all this changed.

That fateful morning Sarfarosh went to the local self-service Udipi restaurant and asked for a plate of Vada-Sambhar. At the same time a local goonda-cum-politician parked himself at a table close to Sarfarosh. He too asked for the Vada-Sambhar. Unfortunately the kitchen had closed down and there was exactly only one plate of Vada-Sambhar left. Since Sarfarosh had ordered first it came to her. But the goonda is not one for table manners. He forcibly took away her Vada-Sambhar and to add salt to injury he remarked "E Chamiya ! Thoda aur patli ho jaogi toh marr nahin jaogi".

Oh boy ! Hell hath no fury like a women whose weight had been made fun of. Something inside her tripped - the nuclear bomb had been armed. She said to herself "This mustn't register at an emotional level." Then this is what unfolded:

First, to distract her target, she threw her strategy assignment into the Goonda's face. Then blocked his blind jab. Countered with chaata to left cheek. Then slammed her hands into both sides of his head. Dazed, he attempted wild haymaker. She deflected his attempted punch and delivered a Heel kick to his diaphragm. The Goonda flew out of the restaurant.

Summary: Ears ringing, jaw fractured, three ribs cracked, four broken, diaphragm hemorrhaging. Physical recovery six weeks. Full psychological recovery six months. Ability to make fun of a women's weight neutralized !

They say Light travels faster than sound but Sarfarosh's punch ki goonj had travelled faster. It became popular with the kids that "Jab gaon mein Sarfarosh toh Gundo ko nahin rahega hosh". From a smart homely chick she transformed into a hunterwali. Very soon she took control of the whole village and came to be known as Sarfarosh Devi - the band-aid queen. "Band-aid" because first she stole / extorted from the rich and gave that as aid / charity to the poor. People looked upon her not in terror but in awe and appreciation. Slowly and surely she dismantled the anti-social elements of Mopullarpur.

Though Sarfarosh moved out the city a few years later to pursue a role in Balaji Telefilms, Mopullarpur was never the same again - for the better !