Twilight in a Knotted World by Siddhartha SarmaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A different perspective of the villainous cult of Thuggee as compared to Confessions of a Thug. Whereas Philip Meadows Taylor gives a gruesome picture of the heinous exploits of Firangee, here the author has elevated this cruel looter to an enigmatic, messiah-like heroic figure who is the “spiritual” head of a cult of murderous thieves. The colonising British are depicted as wise, just and paternalistic entities tolerating the foibles of the squabbling masses of natives. Sati, its justification, archaeology, feral children brought up by wolves are pointless digressions. Giving four star rating for the glossary and detailed superstitions of the Phansigars.
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