thugs

[Alf Hiltebeitel]

Up to date and very good on the Thugs is Martine von Woerkens, Le
voyagerur e'trangle': L'Inde des Thugs, Le colonialisme et l'imaginaire.
Paris, ca 1995 (don't have the publisher handy).

Alf Hiltebeitel
Director, Human Sciences Program
Columbian School Professor of Religion and Human Sciences
The George Washington University
Phillips Hall 412
Washington, D.C., 20052
202/ 994-4297
Fax: 202/ 994-7034

Department of Religion
2106 G St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20052
202/ 994-6325 or 202/ 994-1674
Fax: 202/ 994-9379



On Mon, 17 May 1999, Graefe wrote:

> Dear indologist,
> I have just read "Thug or a Million Murders" (published in the twenties) by
> James Sleeman, grandson of the 19th century suppressor of thuggee Sir William
> Henry Sleeman.
> I got interested in the subject, especially since the book gave rise to numerous
> questions as: Why were there Mohammedian thugs? Of which exact origin is the
> thug goddess Bhovani? Did thugee really become extinct? Why did the British take
> so much pains to hunt the thugs down, when they allegedly did not attack
> foreigners? And many more.
> I wonder whether there is any recent (Indian or other) research on the subject -
> ethnological, anthropological, theological or literary (which is an interesting
> point as well)? Does anyone know?
> Many thanks in advance - Ursula Graefe
>