Essays on 19th Century India

1. Do we have a Meeting Point?
YES We have a common objective-Selling Books.
Rajesh Rampal

2. Who am I?
Rajesh is 57, a Chartered Accountwnt, Author and Speaker. 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. Has worked during the project phase in India of two
Fortune 500 companies viz. GKN plc and Degussa AG. Was Manager Corporate Finance-I in Ranbaxy
Laboratories Limited and also Technology Transfer Engineering and R & D Divisions 1991-96. Spent
two years in Uganda, East Africa working with Cable Corporation Ltd., set up with Japanese
Collaboration- Hashimoto. Also worked with India's premier Economic Think Tank – Indian Council
for Research on International Economic Relations, where rubbed shoulders with many Economists
of International repute. Delved in Insurance, Stock Markets and Corporate Sector Training. 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. 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. 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.
•

3. Some remarks/reviews
Rajesh, I know very well that everything you turn your hand to carries the mark of
excellence.
General Sir Richard Shirreff. (Deputy Supreme Commander, Allied
Powers Europe)
You know, you should be on a lecture circuit giving these sorts of talks. You are a
charming, poised, lecturer - a pleasure to listen to. And you are very erudite.
Hugh Purcell, Former Managing Editor BBC. (Writer and Film maker)
The study of past battles prepares Officers and men alike for situations they might
face in future. These two essays on Delhi and Lucknow in 1857/8 bring out the
importance of Leadership, Strategy and innovative tactics not only for armed
forces but for all of us. Seeking to draw Management Lessons from the Battlefield
based on the Assault on Delhi in 1857 is a novel concept; they merit consideration
in detail by Business Groups.
General Sir Christopher Wallace
(Former Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies) on whetting Rajesh’s
articles on Delhi and Lucknow 1857.

4. Game Plan
• I am looking for a Book distributor/Book shop that can match my requirements-to
sell my books too and I help them sell others too. A Book store too needs new
ideas to market books.
• I love to talk about certain subjects and have done so at the best places in the
world. (See Slide 2.)
• A Book shop specially one with a chain of shops too needs new marketing ideas. I
make the presentations and you sell the books. You creat a relationship with
people. Both of us carve a WIN-WIN Situation. You create a niche customer base
who become loyal as they are invited to your presentations. With a little bit of
application of mind you can even convert your own book-stores into a Conference
room either manually or by technology. Promote Book launches Meet the Author
events at your Stores. Economics is better utilisation of scarce resources.
Remember the gap between the book shelves can be utilised by using book
shelves that can be moved. Real Estate costs a fortune and optimum utilisation of
space is innovative thinking. How ??? Watch at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9LHYf-6ssg
• Next slide may not work on your computer-it is the above link only built into the
presentation.

6. About my first book-never sold through any
book shop
The Divine Stranglers – A Story of Thugs and Thuggee Sleeman ISBN 818549573-4
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)

7. Feedback on my first book
It is a good read, seriously. I liked Divine Stranglers. You have thought your way into the subject so that it convince
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)
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)

8. Webinar for my second book- It has a DVD too.
• www.slideshare.net/rampalr/webinar-essays-on-19th-century-india
• Feedback/Reviews all built into the Webinar even a clip from the DVD.

9. On What subjects can I Speak
Sub ject Of interest to
Organised Crime in the garb of Religion in
19th Century India- includes a clip from
the Deceivers
Historians, Criminologists, Police,
Intelligence, Students, Readers of True
Crime
The Siege and Assault of Delhi 1857-Also
showing Phillip Geddes’- The Devil’s Wind.
Military, Historians, Former Soldiers,
Citizens of Delhi
Lucknow 1857 –role of HMS Shannon Special Interest to Naval officers, Military,
Historians, General readers.
Buddha the Healer Buddhists, Doctors, historians, General
Readers
Understanding the Stock Markets – Part I
and Part II
Financial market buffs – Sell books of
Financial Publishers like Vision Books
Corporate Battlefields- Management
lessons from Battlefield
Corporate World, Marketing,
Management
And many more can be worked out

10. Need to be explained - I live in Delhi-Let me know Time, Date, Venue and if NO I shall be equally delighted
rampalrajesh@hotmail.com