From: partha@mse.cse.ogi.edu (R. Parthasarathy)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Cawnpore, Nagpore, AND JABALPORE
Date: 8 Nov 92 21:08:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.45476
Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute, Material Science & Engineering

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.