This document provides an introduction and overview for a collection of essays on 19th century India. It discusses several topics covered in the essays, including Pindaris, Thugs, the Indian police, "Wolf Boys", the 1857 uprising in Delhi and Lucknow, and famines in colonial India. The foreword provides background on author Rajesh Rampal and how he came to compile this eclectic anthology of essays on Indian history, combining both academic work and his own research and perspectives. It describes Rampal as a knowledgeable enthusiast and admirer of the British army who is not afraid of criticism where deserved. The essays aim to shed light on the turbulent times in 18th-19th century India under East India Company

1. Essays on 19th Century India
Pindaris, Thugs, Indian Police, Wolf Boys, Uprising
1857-Delhi and Lucknow and Famines of Colonial India
An Indo-American-British Venture

5. Foreword
In early November, 2010 I heard Rajesh Rampal give a lecture to a British military audience at
the Gurkha Museum in Winchester. Its title was 'The Siege and Assault of Delhi, 1857: a case
study for any army that wants to punch beyond its weight' – it is reproduced in this collection
of essays. This was a bold lecture to give in front of professionals, particularly by a civilian
resident of Delhi who was a Chartered Accountant without any training either as historian or
soldier. He is also, of course, Indian and although that seemed to pass without notice, a lot less
than a century ago the very notion of this lecture would have been inconceivable. Yet Rajesh's
knowledge, charm and confidence as a public speaker held the attention of all of us. T
These essays are typical of Rajesh's unique status. No academic historian would compile such
an eclectic anthology and this is a compliment! It covers contemporary writing such as Sir
William Sleeman's observations of 'Wolf Children' (a fascinating essay) and the diary of Munshi
Jeewan Lal, who provided the British with information about the rebel forces from inside Delhi
during the siege; this did not stop the avenging army from looting his house. Then there are
new findings of today, such as Dr. McEldowney's essay on the Pindari horse-riding bandits who
terrorised the Maratha states until suppressed by Lord Hastings in 1819, and my own
disturbing experiences in India a hundred years after the 'Great Mutiny' ('Are embers of 1857
still smouldering in India').
Rajesh's own essays are crammed with fact and prone to diversions that are the prerogative of
the enthusiast, and none the worse for that. No one can accuse him of bias. While his
admiration for the British army that recaptured and laid waste his city may be remarkable in
'The Assault on Delhi, September 1857', his 'Famines of Colonial India 1860 – 1900' is an
outspoken criticism of the British Indian Government's indifference and its ignorant policies. I
did not know that in 1876 when the British held a grand durbar to proclaim Queen Victoria as
Empress of India, 100,000 Indians were dying of famine in the south of the country.
Incidentally, the statistical tables and bar charts in this essay give away Rajesh's past as an
accountant! Rajesh's essay on Thuggee 'Organised crime in the garb of religion' is very well
informed because he has already written a book on the subject, 'The Divine Stranglers'.
Always, his writing is entertaining and individual however much he relies on secondary as well
as primary sources.

6. What holds these essays together is the authors sense that the eighteenth and early
nineteenth centuries in India, when the East India Company was but the most
prominent of rulers, were times of awful anarchy and turbulence. He quotes from the
epic love story Heer Ranja, by the Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722 – 1798) in his earlier
book, The Divine Stranglers:
Great confusion has fallen on the country
There is a sword in everyman's hand.
The veil of shame and modesty has been lifted,
And the entire world goes naked in the open bazaar.
Thieves have become leaders,
Harlots have become mistresses of the households.
The company of devils has magnified exceedingly,
The state of the multitude is pitiable.
Men without character flourish and the devil is in great prosperity,
Fools have become masters of our country.
This is the background to these stirring essays that I recommend to all lovers of British
Indian history, and those who wish to draw lessons from the past.
Hugh Purcell
10/7/2012

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8. About the Author
Rajesh Rampal is a Chartered Accountant. He has worked with premier Corporate
Sector Companies in India and in the process dealt with leading financial
Institutions of the world namely ICICI, SBI, IDBI, IFC (W) and EADB. He has also
worked during the project phase in India of two Fortune 500 companies viz. GKN
plc and Degussa AG. He was Manager Corporate Finance-I in Ranbaxy Laboratories
Limited and also looked over the financial aspects in Technology Transfer
Engineering and R & D Divisions of this company. 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 Economists of International repute.
He has delved in Insurance, Stock Markets and Corporate Sector Training. He wrote
a book 'The Divine Stranglers- A Story of Thugs and Thuggee Sleeman' that details
the life and times of 19th century world across three continents in historical fiction
form.
He has lectured and made 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.

9. 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 Gurkha
Museum, Winchester, Royal Armed Medical Corps Museum and the Duke
of Cornwall Light Infantry Museum 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 Allied Powers, Europe, General Sir Christopher
Wallace former Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies, Colonel Dr
John Richardson of the Royal Armed Medical Corps, Colonel Gerald Napier
of the Royal Engineers and author of 'Sapper VC's' and 'Follow the Sapper.'
Former BBC producers Hugh Purcell and Margaret Percy have been with
Rajesh several times on Delhi 1857 sites. Former BBC producer Philip
Geddes and his team made a Documentary 'The Devils Wind' on 1857 and
Rajesh took them around for the shoot. He was interviewed by General Sir
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!

10. Also by the Same Author
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-DIVINESTRANGLERS-
THUGGEE-ebook/dp/B0089ISAN4
Hard Copy: Price India Rs 600, USA: USD 20, UK:
GBP: 15 Delivered (by Indiapost.)
(Order & Details: rampalrajesh@hotmail.com)
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 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)

11. 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, 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 Colonel 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.)
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)