"Thugee" Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Thug - Derived from the Sanskrit word "Sthag" (to deceive) this black practise of robbing and killing travellers, mainly trader caravans, was practised in the Central East and North India in the 12th century.

Rising to a fever pitch in October every year,( the time of Kali Puja)this activity of entering a caravan under the guise of being holy men and killing all at night by strangling with a "rumaal" ( long handkerchief)and robbing them was done in the name of the Goddess Kali!

Part of the loot was offered as a share to Kali. It is rumoured that this black brotherhood even had influential businessmen in its closely guarded membership!

No woman was ever harmed. Gender bias???

Subsequent to the arrival of Lord William Bentinck as Viceroy the cult of Thuggee lost over seven thousand followers to the gallows. Within 3 years it was dead as a cult......

and now, 150 years later, I met these two pretending to be holy men...Kali is alive and well in India...why should not her followers be????

To answer your first question before its asked....No I dont scare easily..:-)

carper, Olienka, robiuk, DaveLarson, Signal-Womb, cgrindahl, hispic, Olga, eleparc, bip-bip has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

John_Nelson (195) 2004-06-23 11:51

Vijay:
Excellant photo and fantastic explanation/story to help us understand the backgroound.
I like the colors and sharpness. The man peering over the shoulder of the man in the foreground adds drama too.

carper (67302) 2004-06-23 11:53

great photo Vijay ,
fantastic portrait, great colours, good dof, very very nice, good job you did here,

DaveLarson (798) 2004-06-23 12:06

Superb composition, Vijay. I love "#2" peering from behind #1. #2 being slightly OOF adds to the effect. #1's hand is great as well.

Dave

Signal-Womb (11771) 2004-06-23 12:19

Brilliant Photo captured here Vijay. The faces in your gallerys are always full of character, excellent footnote to.

eilaw (239) 2004-06-23 13:17

Lovely photo, you've caught the expression of these two men perfectly - he's got a smile, but there's something else in it... perhaps since you've already explained the background, but even if I didn't know, I wonder. The framing is perfect with the right amount of focus in the foreground with the man in the background slightly blurred.

cgrindahl (6109) 2004-06-23 15:31

Wonderful portrait Vijay with fine control of depth of field. This man's eyes confirm the story you tell. Despite the smile there is calculation in these eyes, at least to my mind. Colors are right on and the composition first rate. Great job.

kaychambers (1196) 2004-06-23 20:22

Powerfully captured imagery and top story....good DOF use, well timed to catch that "holy" smile, very impressive result all round....deserves more than the 2 stars....

Well done Vijay

Regards

Vic, Singapore, 24th June 2004

Olga (927) 2004-06-24 3:46 [Comment]

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eleparc (24063) 2004-07-01 10:49

great anote and i love your close up portraits;-)) This is exactly the kind of photo i like to make myself too;-));; your colors are stunning as well as the focus...well done ;-)

bip-bip (1837) 2004-11-06 10:15

This is a very powerful portrait with nice colors and sharpness. This tight crop is very efficient.
Great job !