THE DIVINE STRANGLERS - A STORY OF THUGS AND THUGGEE SLEEMAN
Book Details
Author(s)Rajesh Rampal
ISBN / ASINB0089ISAN4
ISBN-13978B0089ISAN7
Sales Rank1,262,201
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
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.
K. F. Rustomji , Former D. G., B.S.F.
(Indian Police Journal 1962 – Thugs, Pindaris and Dacoits)
=========================
Suppression of Thuggee must be the most outstanding contribution to India of the British Rule. Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman, a most distinguished servant of the state is credited with the suppression of Thuggee by his almost superhuman endeavors.
Brigadier General Sir William Horwood G.B.E., K.C. B., D.S.O.
Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police (1920-28)
READERS FEEDBACK
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.Â
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)
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.
K. F. Rustomji , Former D. G., B.S.F.
(Indian Police Journal 1962 – Thugs, Pindaris and Dacoits)
=========================
Suppression of Thuggee must be the most outstanding contribution to India of the British Rule. Major General Sir William Henry Sleeman, a most distinguished servant of the state is credited with the suppression of Thuggee by his almost superhuman endeavors.
Brigadier General Sir William Horwood G.B.E., K.C. B., D.S.O.
Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police (1920-28)
READERS FEEDBACK
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.Â
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)
