Dacoity
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(May 2008) |
Dacoityis a term used for "banditry"in theIndian subcontinent.The spelling is theanglicisedversion of theHindiword डाकू (ḍākū); "dacoit"/dəˈkɔɪt/is a colloquialIndian Englishword with this meaning. It appears in theGlossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases(1903).[1]Banditryis a criminal activity involving robbery by groups of armed bandits. TheEast India Companyestablished theThuggee and Dacoity Departmentin 1830, and theThuggee and Dacoity Suppression Acts, 1836–1848were enacted inBritish IndiaunderEast India Company rule.[2]Areas with ravines or forests, such asChambalandChilapata Forests,were once known for dacoits.
Etymology
[edit]The word "dacoity" is ananglicizedversion of theHindiwordḍakaitī(historically transliterateddakaitee).Hindiडकैती comes fromḍākū(historically transliterateddakoo,Hindi:डाकू, meaning "armed robber" ).[3][4]
The termdacoit(Hindi:डकैतḍakait) means "abandit"according to theOED( "A member of a class of robbers inIndiaandBurma,who plunder in armed bands ").[3][4]
History
[edit]Bandits of Bhind-Morena and Chambal
[edit]The dacoity have had a large impact in theBhindandMorenaofChambalregions inMadhya Pradesh,Rajasthan,HaryanaandUttar Pradeshin north-central India.[5]The exact reasons for the emergence of dacoity in the Chambal valley have been disputed. Most explanations have suggested feudal exploitation as the cause that provoked many people in this region to take arms. The area was also underdeveloped and poor, so banditry posed great economic incentives.[5]However, the fact that many gangs operating in this valley were composed of higher castes and wealthy people appears to suggest that feudalism may only be a partial explanation of dacoity in Chambal Valley (Bhaduri, 1972; Khan, 1981; Jatar, 1980; Katare, 1972). Furthermore, traditional honour codes andblood feudswould drive some into criminality.[5]
In Chambal, India, organized crime controlled much of the countryside from the time of theBritish Rajup to the early 2000s, with the police offering high rewards for the most notorious bandit chiefs. The criminals regularly targeted local businesses, though they preferred to kidnap wealthy people and demand ransom from their relatives - cutting off fingers, noses, and ears to pressure them into paying high sums. Many dacoity also posed associal banditstoward the local poor, paying medical bills and funding weddings. One ex-dacoit described his criminal past by claiming that "I was a rebel. I fought injustice."[5]Following intense anti-banditry campaigns by the Indian Police, highway robbery was almost completely eradicated in the early 2000s. Nevertheless, Chambal is still popularly believed to be unsafe and bandit-infested by many Indians. One police officer noted that the fading of dacoity was also due to social changes, as few young people were any longer willing to endure the harsh life of highway robbers in the countryside. Instead, they prefer to join crime groups in the city, where life is easier.[5]
Dacoits in Bengal
[edit]While thugs and dacoits operating in northern and central India are more popularly known and referenced in books, films, and academic journals, a significant number of accounts also come from Bengal. Writing about the dacoits of Bengal, the colonial official CH Keighly mentions the “great difference between gangs of hereditary dacoits or thugs in other parts of India and the dacoits of Bengal”.[6]It is notable that, unlike the rest of India, dacoits in Bengal did not come from a particular social class, caste, or creed.
The Gangs of Nadia and Hooghly
[edit]Dacoit gangs in Nadia and Hooghly were mainly known for their ceremonial practices before the night of dacoity. Before setting off for their mission, the members would assemble to perform “kalipuja” led by the Sirdar (leader). The dacoits would form a straight line, and a pot of liquor, torches, and weapons to be used in the dacoity would be laid down in a clear space. The Sirdar would then dip his finger in oil and touch the forehead of all the dacoits, making them promise never to confess. Even during the raid, when dacoits opened chests and discovered a good fortune, they would shout “Kali, Jai Kali”.[6]
Dacoits of Birbhum
[edit]Dacoity was prevalent in 19th century West Bengal. One of the gangs, led by a charismatic leader named Bhabani Pathak, was known for its loyalty to their leader. After the British captured Bhabani, the inner workings and social factors that led to the construction of this gang were revealed. Leaders such as Bhabani were known as Sirdars and had a symbiotic relationship with their followers.[6]Among other benefits, a Sirdar would lend loans to members and provide them protection. This allowed for the formation of a special bond between Sirdar and his followers, which meant that cases of desertion and exiting the gang were virtually unheard of.
Tales of Burdwan
[edit]In Burdwan, dacoities were heavily planned, and considerable thought was put into their seamless execution. Sirdars in Burdwan employed several informants who kept them updated about prospective targets.[6]When a target was finalized, the Sirdar and relevant gang members were constantly made aware of his whereabouts. The informants were always on the lookout for wealthy business people and kept a close watch on those who exchanged bank notes of considerable value or received a shipment of merchandise they would store in their houses.
Other dacoity
[edit]The term is also applied, according to theOED,to "pirates who formerly infested theGangesbetweenCalcuttaandBurhampore".
Dacoits existed in Burma as well—Rudyard Kipling's fictional Private Mulvaney hunted Burmese dacoits in "The Taking of Lungtungpen."Sax Rohmer's criminal mastermindDr. Fu Manchualso employed Burmese dacoits as hishenchmen.
Indian police forces use "Known Dacoit" (K.D.) as a label to classify criminals.
Thuggee and Dacoity Suppression Act
[edit]Introduced in 1836, the suppression acts brought about several legislative measures, including establishing special courts, authorization for using rewards for informants, and the power to arrest suspects.[7]The suppression acts marked the beginning of active British intervention in policing and law enforcement in Indian society. These acts were known to be authoritarian and further deepened the uneven power dynamic between the British and the Indians.
British Portrayal of Crime in India
[edit]The British often saw Indians as primitive, violent, and unruly, and this often acted as a justification for colonization and further consolidated their “civilization mission” pretext. The practice ofthuggeeand dacoity was seen in a similar Eurocentric light without understanding the local context. An orientalist view of such activities was portrayed in the rest of the world to account for several repressive legislative measures that the British took. Under this punitive approach, several innocent individuals fell prey to false suspicion and were incriminated.[8]
Notable dacoits
[edit]
Notable dacoits include:
- Chavviram Singh Yadav[9]
- Gabbar Singh Gujjar- inspired the famous 1975 filmSholay,based on his life[10]
- Man Singh[11]was a notorious Dacoit of theRathoreclan of Rajputs. He was also known as the Lion ofChambal.
- Malkhan Singh Rajpoot,a notorious bandit known as theBandit KingorKing of Dacoits.[12]He also had political aspirations in MP.
- Malangi
- Kallu Yadav (Kalua),also known as Katri King[13]
- Mohar Singh Gurjar
- Nirbhay Singh Gujjar
- Nizam Lohar,a dacoit born into aPunjabi Muslimfamily during theSikh Empire.He is known for his rebellion and freedom struggle against theBritish colonial government.
- Paan Singh Tomar,a former soldier in theIndian Army,an athlete that represented India in theAsian Games,who later resorted to becoming a Baaghi due to the injustices he faced. Also inspired the Bollywood filmPaan Singh Tomar,in which he was played byIrrfan Khan.
- Phoolan Devi,[14]known as Bandit Queen (even a movie with thesame namewas made), a lady bandit who initially rebelled against her rape and injustice her community she was subjected to.
- Rambabu Gadariya- Regarded as the last notorious dacoit of Chambal[15]
- Shiv Kumar Patel(Dadua)
- Ramashish Koeriwas active inRohtas Plateauof Bihar in 1980s. He was the leader of a group of bandits, who were supported by the people from lower strata of society. This dacoit group was known for challenging the hagemony of upper caste landlords in the region, who were exploitative.[16]
- Jagat Singh Sidhu (Jagga Jatt)
- Koose Munusamy Veerappan,a notorious dacoit, poacher, and smuggler in South India. He was responsible for poaching approximately 500 of the 2000 elephants killed in the peninsular region where he was active[17]and forsmuggling ivoryworth US$2.6 million (₹16 crore)[17]and about 65 tons of sandalwood[18]worth approximately US$22 million (₹143 crore).[19]
Protection measures
[edit]In Madhya Pradesh, women belonging to a village defence group have been issued firearm permits to fend off dacoity. The Chief minister of the state,Shivraj Singh Chouhan,recognised the role the women had played in defending their villages without guns. He stated that he wanted to enable these women to better defend both themselves and their villages, and issued the gun permits to advance this goal.[20]
In popular culture
[edit]Dacoit films
[edit]As the dacoits flourished through the 1940s–1970s, they were the subject of variousHindi filmsmade during this era, leading to the emergence of the dacoit film genre inHindi Film Industry.[21]The genre began withMehboob Khan'sAurat(1940), which he remade asMother India(1957).Mother Indiareceived anAcademy Awardnomination, and defined the dacoit film genre, along withDilip Kumar'sGunga Jumna(1961).[22]Other popular films in this genre includedRaj Kapoor’sJis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai(1961) andMoni Bhattacharjee'sMujhe Jeene Do(1963).[23]
Pakistani actorAkmal Khanhad two dacoit films,Malangi(1965) andImam Din Gohavia(1967). Other films in this genre includedKhote Sikkay(1973),Mera Gaon Mera Desh(1971), andKuchhe Dhaage(1973) both byRaj Khosla.
The most famous dacoit film isSholay(1975), written bySalim–Javed,and starringDharmendra,Amitabh Bachchan,andAmjad Khanas the dacoit characterGabbar Singh.It was amasala filmthat combined the dacoit film conventions ofMother IndiaandGunga Jumnawith that ofSpaghetti Westerns,spawning the "Dacoit Western" genre,[22]also known as the "Curry Western" genre. The film also borrowed elements fromAkira Kurosawa'sSeven Samurai.[24]Sholaybecame a classic in the genre, and its success led to a surge of films in this genre, includingGanga Ki Saugandh(1978), once again starring Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad Khan.
An internationally acclaimed example of the genre isBandit Queen(1994).
The Tamil movie starringKarthi,Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru(2017) deals elaborately with bandits. The film reveals the real dacoity incidents which held in Tamil Nadu between 1995 and 2005. DirectorVinothdid a two-year research about bandits to develop the script.
A related genre of crime films areMumbai underworld films.
Other media
[edit]Bengali novelDevi Chowdhuraniby authorBankim Chandra Chatterjeein 1867.
Bengali poemBirpurushbyRabindranath Tagorein 1903.
A Hindi novel namedPainstth Lakh ki Dacoity(1977) was written bySurender Mohan Pathak;it was translated asThe 65 Lakh Heist.
Dacoits armed with pistols and swords appear inAge of Empires III: Asian Dynasties.
They frequently appeared in the French languageBob Moraneseries of novels byHenri Vernes,principally as the main thugs or assassins of the hero's recurring villain, Mr. Ming and in English as the agents of Sax Rohmer’s Fu Manchu.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Here, "Anglo-Indian" refers to the language or linguistic usage. See: Yule, Henry and Burnell, Arthur Coke (1886; reprinted 1903).Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive.London: J. Murry. p.290.Archived2014-06-28 at theWayback Machine.
- ^Parama Roy (1998).Indian Traffic: Identities in Question in Colonial and Postcolonial India.University of California Press. pp. 41–.ISBN978-0-520-91768-2.Retrieved10 August2024.
- ^ab"Definition of DACOITY".www.merriam-webster.com.Retrieved10 August2024.
- ^ab"Definition of DACOIT".www.merriam-webster.com.Retrieved10 August2024.
- ^abcdePaul Salopek (6 February 2019)."Trekking India's wild north, where bandits ruled".National Geographic.Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2019.Retrieved7 February2019.
- ^abcdDas, Suranjan (26 April 2016)."Behind the Blackened Faces: The 19th Century Bengali Dacoits".Economic and Political Weekly.42(35): 3573–3579.JSTOR40276503– via JSTOR.
- ^Singha, Radhika (1993)."'Providential' Circumstances: The Thuggee Campaign of the 1830s and Legal Innovation ".Modern Asian Studies.27(1): 83–146.doi:10.1017/S0026749X00016085.ISSN0026-749X.JSTOR312879.S2CID145536132.
- ^Brown, Mark (2002)."CRIME, GOVERNANCE AND THE COMPANY RAJ: The Discovery of Thuggee".The British Journal of Criminology.42(1): 77–95.doi:10.1093/bjc/42.1.77.ISSN0007-0955.JSTOR23638761.
- ^Raina, Asoka (31 March 1982)."UP's most wanted dacoit Chhabiram killed after seven-and-a-half hour battle".India Today.Retrieved9 June2022.
- ^"Sholay: Iconic Bollywood film releases in Pakistan cinemas - BBC News".Archivedfrom the original on 5 August 2018.Retrieved18 August2018.
- ^Staff (5 September 1955)"India: Dead Man"Archived2010-11-30 at theWayback MachineTime magazine
- ^Kaufman, Michael T. (1982-03-29). "Despite Grisly Evidence, India Glorifies Its Bndits".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
- ^"Dreaded dacoit Kalua shot dead".Hindustan Times.17 January 2006.Retrieved24 February2023.
- ^Phoolan Devi; Marie-Therese Cuny & Paul Rambali (2006). "The Bandit Queen of India: An Indian Woman's Amazing Journey from Peasant to International Legend". Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press, 2006.ISBN978-1-59228-641-6.
- ^"The 'Last Lion of Chambal' gunned down by police".www.southasianpost.com. 20 September 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.
- ^Farzand Ahmed, ed. (15 March 1986)."183 people brutally murdered in Kaimur plateau in Bihar in last 12 months".India Today.Archivedfrom the original on 30 January 2023.Retrieved30 January2023.
- ^abSHARMA, RAVI (18 November 2004)."How he made his pile".Frontline.
- ^"The most famous of them all".www.downtoearth.org.in.
- ^K.G., Kannabiran (2004).The Wages of Impunity: Power, Justice, and Human Rights.Orient Blackswan.ISBN9788125026389.
- ^"Indian Women Granted Gun Permits to Fend Off Armed Robbers"Archived2008-11-23 at theWayback MachineLearnAboutGuns.com
- ^Salopek, Paul (6 February 2019)."Outlaw Trails".National Geographic Society.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2019.Retrieved13 February2019.
They have grown up on news accounts and Bollywood movies about the remote Chambal, a vast badland at the northern heart of their country: a no-go zone of lumpy hills and silty rivers infested with thugs, robbers, murderers, gangsters—with infamous highwaymen called dacoits.
- ^abTeo, Stephen (2017).Eastern Westerns: Film and Genre Outside and Inside Hollywood.Taylor & Francis.p. 122.ISBN9781317592266.Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2017.Retrieved27 November2017.
- ^"The Real Life Hero".Screen.6 June 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2010.Retrieved1 October2011.
- ^Pandya, Haresh (27 December 2007)."G. P. Sippy, Indian Filmmaker WhoseSholayWas a Bollywood Hit, Dies at 93 ".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 28 August 2011.Retrieved23 February2011.
Further reading
[edit]- Phoolan Devi, with Marie-Therese Cuny, and Paul Rambali,The Bandit Queen of India: An Indian Woman's Amazing Journey from Peasant to International LegendGuilford, CT: The Lyons Press, 2006ISBN978-1-59228-641-6
- Mala Sen,India's Bandit Queen: The true Story of Phoolan Devi,HarperCollins Publishers (September 1991)ISBN978-0-00-272066-3.
- G. K. Betham,The Story of a Dacoity, and the Lolapaur Week: An Up-Country Sketch.BiblioBazaar, 2008.ISBN0-559-47369-9.
- Shyam Sunder Katare,Patterns of dacoity in India: a case study of Madhya Pradesh.S. Chand, 1972.
- Mohammad Zahir Khan,Dacoity in Chambal Valley.National, 1981.
External links
[edit]
- Dacoity - Indian Penal Code, Chapter XVII(Mobile Friendly)
- As modern world closes in, India's fabled bandits are disappearingArchived26 September 2022 at theWayback Machine-International Herald Tribune
