Thuggee

Group of Thugs

Group of Thugs (From a Photograph)

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Thugs Strangling Traveller

Thugs Blinding and Mutilating Traveller

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William-Henry-Sleeman

Thuggee (or Thuggee cult) was a secret society that operated in India for hundreds of years, possibly since the 13th century, and was known for its acts of mass murder and robbery, targeting travelers. The British colonial administration in India suppressed the Thuggee movement in the 19th century. The word "thug" in English is derived from the Hindi word thag, which means deceiver or swindler. The Thuggee cult is often cited as one of the most notorious criminal organizations in history, and its members were known as Thugs.

Origins and Beliefs

The origins of Thuggee are shrouded in mystery and legend. Some sources suggest that Thugs considered themselves the children of Kali, a Hindu goddess associated with death and destruction. They believed they were performing a sacred duty or service by killing their victims, as a form of human sacrifice to honor Kali. The Thugs were known to operate with great secrecy and developed a complex set of rituals and codes of conduct. They traveled in groups across the Indian subcontinent, befriending travelers before strangling them with a ceremonial scarf or rumal, and then robbing them.

Modus Operandi

The Thugs were meticulous in their planning and execution of crimes. They usually infiltrated groups of travelers, gaining their trust over several days. Once a suitable opportunity arose, usually at a preselected remote location, they would strangle their victims at night, bury their bodies in shallow graves, and then divide the loot among themselves. The Thugs avoided shedding blood as it was considered impure, which is why strangulation was their preferred method of killing.

Suppression

The British East India Company, during its rule in India, undertook a major campaign to suppress the Thuggee cult. The campaign was led by William Sleeman, who was appointed in 1835 as the Superintendent of the Thuggee and Dacoity Department. Sleeman's efforts to dismantle the Thuggee network involved the use of informants, extensive surveillance, and the implementation of a legal framework that allowed for the prosecution of Thugs. By the 1870s, the British authorities had largely succeeded in eradicating the Thuggee cult.

Legacy

The Thuggee cult has left a lasting impact on both Indian and Western culture. In India, tales of the Thugs contributed to the folklore and mythology of the region. In the West, the Thuggee cult has been romanticized and sensationalized in literature and films, often portrayed as a mysterious and exotic phenomenon. The cult's association with the goddess Kali has also contributed to the Western fascination with Thuggee.

Criticism and Controversy

Some historians and scholars have questioned the extent and nature of the Thuggee cult, suggesting that the British colonial authorities exaggerated the threat posed by the Thugs to justify their own policies and to establish law and order. There is also debate about whether Thuggee was a cohesive, pan-Indian organization or a series of unrelated criminal bands that were loosely connected.

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