Tantya Bheel / : The Great Indian Moonlighter

Once, an Indian police officer, in order to capture Tantya, camped near his favorite hideout. A few days later, he needed a barber to shave him. He called a barber from a nearby village. The barber arrived and began shaving the officer. He was very talkative and, while shaving, casually talked about Tantya the dacoit. After shaving, he said, Now? Theres only one way to catch him. The police officer asked, How? The barber had finished shaving. This way, he said, biting off the officers nose and, exclaiming, I am Tantya!, leaped into the forest. -ST Jamess Gazette, May 6, 1889 Tantyas name is revered as a hero among the Bhil community (the lower castes according to the newspaper). In folk songs, Tantya is described as the hero of the tribals. He is called the Rob Roy of India. He roamed the vast territory of Khandesh for many years. All attempts to capture him failed. A sense of despair had driven the police mad. The kind of information that led to his arrest makes it clear that without treachery, no one could have caught the Indian bandit Roy. -The Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA), October 19, 1889 Tantya was no ordinary bandit. He was great. He had made void the constitutional authorities of the country, who are called the saviors of the nation. He possessed all the moral values of human life. He possessed the great qualities of justice, mercy, gentleness, compassion, truthfulness, restraint, courage, and friendship. His life is worth studying. It was filled with all the enlightening instructions. Although he cut off the noses of some, murdered, and ridiculed some, he alleviated the poverty of many poor people. We cannot stop the tears that flow for him. Whose heart would not weep at his treacherous arrest? -Taunton Courier and Western Advertise, August 13, 1890