True Crime, Thugs, Thuggee, Sleeman, India, 19th Century,

1. The Divine Stranglers – A Story of Thugs and Thuggee Sleeman
ISBN 818549573-4
Also available in ebook format at AMAZON in Kindle Edition
http://www.amazon.com/THE-DIVINE-STRANGLERS-THUGGEE-
ebook/dp/B0089ISAN4
Hard Copy: Price India Rs 600, USA: USD 20, UK: GBP: 15 Delivered (by
Indiapost.)
(Order & Details: rampalrajesh@hotmail.com)
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Story in Brief
Set in turbulent Central India in the early 19th century, the story
revolves around an Englishman in the employ of the East India
Company, his French wife from a noble Émigré family, businessmen.
Policemen and a sect of Divine Murderers. The Englishman sets out to
exterminate the sect, using the first ever modern scientific methods of
Criminal Investigation and detection. This results in the arrest of 3,689
killers, 466 of whom are hanged and 2497 imprisoned for life. Based on
Historical facts, the story takes you through early 19th century customs
and practices in England, France and India. Strangulations, Famine,
Epidemics, Myths, Folklore , Superstitions gel together in the story to
unfold the mystique of India.
The Thug Menace
More than a hundred Thug gangs prowled India’s highways and
annually killed about 40,000 travellers in the early 19th century. The

2. Thugs were held together by a perversion of religion that made killing a
part of worship. The gangs were knit together by a strange and bizarre
regimen of life, that destroyed their victims with a combination of guile
and cruelty almost unparalleled in the history of crime anywhere in the
world. The Thugs had been plying their trade undetected for nearly 500
years.
Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman was a man of zeal and spirit
far above the ordinary and his extraordinary tenacity of purpose was in
the final analysis the reason why Thuggee could be eliminated. The legal
procedures of the time also helped a lot as they permitted quick and
effective trials and deterrent punishment to thugs.
K. F. Rustomji , Former D. G., B.S.F.
(Indian Police Journal 1962 – Thugs, Pindaris and Dacoits)
Readers Feedback on THE DIVINE STRANGLERS
It is a good read, seriously. I liked Divine Stranglers. You have thought your way
into the subject so that it convinces the reader and has a period authenticity, I
admire your confidence in adopting a semi-fictional approach. I like your direct
no-nonsense style too.
Hugh Purcell (Author and Former Managing Editor BBC)
Now that I have read ‘Divine Stranglers’ my son, a Detective Superintendent in
the London Metropolitan Police will get to read it.
Ron Cassidy (Author and former Curator RGJ Museum)
A masterful book about William Sleeman- all fascinating. Do come and visit us in
Wales.
Nicky and Johnny Rogers
Great story line! The Divine Stranglers would make a really good movie, showing
the dilemmas of the individual boy caught up in circumstances beyond his
control. Keep trying and I will be there to support you at the premier.
Colonel Dr John Richardson (RAMC) (Retired)
A real gem –The Divine Stranglers. That you kindly inscribed it for me makes it
extra special.
Clive Elderton (Former British Defense Advisor, BHC ,New Delhi)
I very much enjoyed reading the Divine Stranglers, which I thought very well
written.
Professor Stephen Slemon (University of Alberta, Canada)
Fascinating! I was glued to it till I finished it. You keep the tempo fast paced and
exciting. It would make a wonderful film. Only Sir Richard Attenborough can do
justice to make a film on your story.
Darshan Lal (Director- Monsanto Holding P. Ltd), Former Director
BASF India Ltd.
"The Divine Stranglers" -found it absolutely fascinating. I particularly enjoyed
the way you introduced the background of the different protagonists, including
the sympathetic portrait of the thug Mahaveer. It was a remarkable achievement
to destroy the network of Thugs.
Frank Baldwin (Chairman- Battlefields Trust, U.K.)

3. I absolutely adore your endeavour. The story succeeds in creating the mystique
and highlights each character sympathetically. J Sanyal (Author- Bengalee)
Your book is a Master piece! Pavani Sitaramiah (Author-Tamil & Telugu)
I found your book very interesting. S. S. Dawra IAS (Former Secretary GOI)
Good luck with Thuggee film project - I agree would be a fascinating project.......
Phillip Geddes (Formerly BBC and Communications Advisor EU)
About the Author
Coming soon by the same Author – Essays on 19th Century India
Rajesh Rampal is a Chartered Accountant. He has worked with premier
Corporate Sector Companies in India DCM Ltd., Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. He
has also worked during the project phase in India for two Fortune 500 companies
viz. GKN plc and Degussa AG setting up GKN Driveline Ltd. and Insilco Ltd. He
spent two years in Uganda, East Africa working with Cable Corporation Ltd., set
up with Japanese Collaboration- Hashimoto. He also worked with India’s
premier Economic Think Tank –Indian Council for Research on International
Economic Relations, where he rubbed shoulders with many an Economist.
He has delved in Insurance, Stock Markets and Corporate Sector Training. He
wrote a book ‘The Divine Stranglers-The Story of Thugs and Thuggee Sleeman’
that details the life and times of 19th century world across three continents apart
from the main theme.
He has lectured/presentations on ‘Organised Crime in the Garb of religion in 19th
century India- Thuggee’ in the Intelligence Bureau, National Institute of
Criminology and Forensic Sciences, India International Centre and Royal
Military Police HQ in Southwick Park, Hampshire, U.K.
He has also made presentations on ‘The Siege and Assault of Delhi 1857- A case
study for any Army that wishes to punch above its weight’ in Royal Gurkhas
Museum, Winchester, Royal Armed Medical Corps Museum at Keogh Barracks,
Ash Wale and the 32nd Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry in Bodmin. He also
made the same presentation to the International Guild of Battlefield Guides in
London in November 2010.
Rajesh has also taken several British Army officers around the sites of Delhi
1857. Some prominent names are General Sir Richard Shirreff, Deputy Supreme
Commander NATO Forces Europe, Colonel Gerald Napier of the Royal Engineers
and author of ‘Sapper VC’s’ and ‘Follow the Sapper’ and Colonel Dr John
Richardson of the Royal Armed Medical Corps. General Sir Christopher Wallace,
former Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies has acknowledged him in
two of his books.
Former BBC producers Hugh Purcell and Margaret Percy have been with Rajesh
several times on Delhi 1857 sites. Former BBC producer Philip Geddes made a
Documentary ‘The Devils Wind’ on 1857 and Rajesh took them around for the
shoot. He was interviewed by General Richard Shirreff on battle tactics in the
Documentary. Rajesh’s only claim to being a Historian is being the next door
neighbour of the famous Indian Historian Dr Bipin Chandra for nearly a decade
who was his father’s colleague in the Delhi University. He has never studied
History beyond the 8th Standard!