‘I heard Punjab is a land of plenty… Hope my kids have plenty’

Phoolan Devi doesn’t remember the date. What she does remember is how excited she was, about leaving for Punjab with husband Mangal. It was a land of riches for migrants from Bihar, she had heard.

Phoolan Devi, 18
Near Patiala, Punjab
Moved from Nalanda, Bihar, post-marriage, with husband

They got married in October, around Dussehra. Phoolan Devi doesn’t remember the date. What she does remember is how excited she was, about leaving for Punjab with husband Mangal. It was a land of riches for migrants from Bihar, she had heard.

Shivering under a towel that she uses as covering in the harsh winter of Nardu village near Rajpura, 25 km from Patiala, Phoolan smiles weakly at how quickly that dream has shattered. Mangal alternates as a farm and brick kiln labourer, depending on the season, and money is too scant for her to afford woollens. Within two days of reaching Punjab, she had joined him, both in the kilns and fields for work.

“My husband borrowed money for the wedding and has to pay off the debt,” Phoolan shrugs. “If we both work for 15 days, we get around Rs 1,500. We can barely afford two meals a day.” Picking weeds from a field, she adds, “I hope to make Rs 200 to buy a shawl.”

However, lack of money is not what saddens her. It’s the fact that even 1,350 km away from her village Uprawal in Nalanda, she hasn’t escaped her old life. Her father works as a brick moulder back home.

Ask about her dreams, and she shakes her head. “Gareeb ke kya sapne honge (What dreams will a poor person have)?” However, that image of Punjab sticks. “Back home I would hear Punjab is a land of plenty. I hope when we have children, they not only get plenty to eat but also an opportunity to study, to live and not just survive.”

At the end of the day, she collects firewood before returning to the one-room quarters allotted to brick kiln labourers — holding a basic cot, a clothesline and an earthen stove. Often, as she does the cooking and washing, Phoolan says, “I miss home so much, I cry. Although my husband has a big family here, I miss my four sisters, brother and parents.”

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Her refuge is a 4X2 ft steel trunk, covered with a plastic and tucked in a corner, holding almost all the things her parents gave her before she left for her in-laws’ home:

Her trousseau

They gave her about 32 saris. All but five-six of them went as gifts to her husband’s relatives. Phoolan keeps the saris neatly stacked in the trunk. Right at the top is her favourite — a bright red sari with golden sequins and embroidery that she wore for her wedding. Next to it are the silver anklets she also wore that day. She keeps them safely wrapped in a plastic pouch.

Her ‘shagun’

The Rs 10 notes, amounting to Rs 120, lie rolled up with a rubber band. Her relatives and friends gave her the notes as part of their blessing at her wedding. Money is short, but she won’t spend this.

Bindis

There are 10 packets of bindis in different sizes, most of them plain and red but a few decorated with sequins and stones.

Lipstick, kohl, sindoor

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With no other space inside the room, these too lie inside the trunk. She applies the make-up with the help of a small mirror, also kept inside the trunk.

Utensils

The couple has two aluminum vessels to make dal and rice, two bowl-shaped plates, a tava, four stainless steel glasses, a red plastic jug, and a few spoons.

A bucket and a soap also lie in the room, as the two bathrooms at the kiln are shared by all labourers.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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