From: bharat@ccvax.ucd.ie
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Cawnpore, Nagpore, AND JABALPORE
Date: 9 Nov 92 18:44:43 GMT
Organization: University College Dublin

In article <45476@ogicse.ogi.edu>, partha@mse.cse.ogi.edu (R. Parthasarathy) writes:
> In article <1992Nov7.115058.49848@ccvax.ucd.ie> bharat@ccvax.ucd.ie writes:
>>In article <atulpule.720897371@cunews>, atulpule@sebastian.carleton.ca (Ajit Tulpule) writes:
>>
> 	[Stuff deleted..]
> 
>>If you know about Pindari thugs, you might be aware of a name Col. William
>                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>sliman. He started a movement against Pindari thugs which used to be 
>>another name of death. After nearly 2 or 3 years of hunting and coordinated
>>support from Indian-British police nearly all the Pindaris were killed.
>>I am joining this true story with another very small towm (20 KM north west
>>from Jabalpur) Slimanabad which is named after Col. William Sliman. It's 
>>very strange but true.....
>>
>>-vibgyor the Pindari
> 
> A small correction is needed here. Pindaris and Thugs were different.
> Pindaris emerged from the remnants of mercenary armies of the Marathas.
> When the Maratha empire finally collapsed, these mercenaries took to
> robbery and plunder. Sometimes they went in very large numbers (tens
> of thousands) and obliterated everything on their way. They had one of
> the most cruel torture practices that were done for shear sadistic
> entertainment. The Pindaris slowly withered away as the British gained
> ascendency in India. Many probably got recruited into British regiments.
> 
> As for the Thugs their cult was much older. It seems there are sculptures
> from around 1000AD which depict thuggee acts. When the Turkish sultans
> occupied the Delhi throne, they were approached for help. However, the
> sultans refused to do anything fearing a curse. The English word Thug
> derives from the same Hindustani word which means a deceiver. These
> people followed the Kali cult. They operated in groups. Some groups had
> exotic ceremonies. Their victims were innocent merchants and pilgrims
> who went on foot from one destination to another. The thugs operated
> during a certain season. After a ceremonial blessing they departed for
> their "religious duty". They were so deceptive that they were mistaken
> for travellers. They befriended innocent travellers and murdered them
> during the night at their campsites. All thugs carried a handkerchief
> with coins tied on one end. A typical thug will wrap the kerchief around
> his victim's neck in a flash of a moment and break his neck, while another
> thug held the victim's feet.  There were two classes of thugs - the land
> thugs and the river thugs. The latter ones killed people who went by
> boats.  Thugs comprised of members from all sections
> of the society. Some were ministers, some farmers, some merchants and some
> were priests , soldiers and so on. Many native soldiers of the English
> regiments simply vanished when they went to visit their folks. If people
> didn't return home for a while, it was assumed they were sacrificed by
> the thugs. Farmers discovered dead bodies in their wells. But they never
> went to anyone seeking help. They simply buried the bodies and carried on
> with their lives. Thuggee groups involved both Hindus and Mussalmaans!
> The cult had pervaded all over the sub-continent. People were absolutely
> helpless. The kings turned a blind eye to these atrocities. Many people
> joined thuggee cults to avoid being killed by thugs.  The earlier
> British administrators decided not to interfere with the native way
> of life, until a british officer fell victim to the thuggee act. That's
> when Mr. William Sleeman came to India. He did an extensive study on
> thugee cults and made inroads into their modus operandi. Then he was
> instrumental in capturing all the thugs and punishing them. Thuggee
> cult was finally wiped out by the British since it interfered with
> their business operations in the sub-continent. 
> 
> Not much is taught about such gruesome incidents in our history. Many times
> our people get angered at hearing this and make statements like "it is
> the attempt by firangis to defile our culture". 
> 
> Anyway, I just made a small correection on this..
> 
> Partha sarathy
> 
> NB: See a movie called "The Deceivers".. It stars a famous English actor
> (I don't recall his name), Sayeed Jafree, Sashi Kapoor, Neena Gupta.
> It was very very realistic in depicting thugs. If you read the book
> on thugs and see this movie you'll really like it.

I appriciate your knowledge. Thanks for sending this info.

-vibgyor the Pindari