Pickaxes of the Thuggee

[Jim McDougall]

To continue this VERY esoteric topic, and just for research fun, I have continued with this. As noted, there is no doubt a great deal of 'license' was taken in 1939 with the Cary Grant film "Gunga Din", but as always my curiosity compels me to discover the seeds for these elements. Clearly the writers took from the famed Kipling poem, and in the 30s, the British were indeed still in the 'Khyber', but the 'Thuggee' feature was notably an esoteric perspective not part of that poem.

The tenuous association with the 'Thug' pickaxe and the 'lohar' remains temptingly associated, and I finally located one of these to satisfy my idea in the collection. This is simply the case for 'old guy' fascination with long ago things recalled from youth....and the countless times I watched this movie, not realizing until these later years the impact of the intriguing 'thugs' and these mysterious axes they used, though ceremoniously.

Finally locating a copy of the book by Col. James Sleeman, grandson of the British officer who finally beat the Thugs, and signed edition 1940, I put these items together.

I could not resist my usual humor in recalling watching the original movie in my younger years, thinking of the overplayed part of Sam Jaffee, who played the part of the native water carrier, Gunga Din, and his passionate bugling.
A great parody of this was played by Peter Sellers in "The Party" (1968).

So just for fun, and a serious pairing of the Afghan axe 'lohar' with the book on the thugs, along with a lighter look at the wonderful movie I enjoyed so much.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... along with a lighter look at the wonderful movie I enjoyed so much.

Corporal Din should have received the VC. I'll dig up a cc. & watch it tonight

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by kronckew

Corporal Din should have received the VC. I'll dig up a cc. & watch it tonight

I was pleased to see that Gurkhas have been awarded the VC 26 times, though a quick search seems to indicate that the majority of the medal honorees were Brit officers rather than native Gurkhas.

Eligibility and Historical Context

Gurkhas have been part of the British Army since 1815.

The first VC awarded to a Gurkha was to a British officer in 1858, while the first native Gurkha recipient was Kulbir Thapa in 1915.

Only Gurkhas serving in British Army units are eligible for the VC, as those in the Indian Army are recognized under the Indian honors system.

[Jim McDougall]

[QUOTE=kronckew;301568]Corporal Din should have received the VC. I'll dig up a cc. & watch it tonight[T

Thanks Wayne! I knew you'd come in! You can appreciate all these old reveries recalling the old films and adventure fantasies of youth that led into this lifelong odyssey in collecting and studying arms.

Golden days!

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

...
A great parody of this was played by Peter Sellers in "The Party" (1968).
....

"Mmmm. Birdy num-nums." One of Peter Sellers' best.

[gp]

Originally Posted by Ian

"Mmmm. Birdy num-nums." One of Peter Sellers' best.

for those not having seen this excellent movie...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGi2AlMhraQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFKJuzrCGj4

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Ian

"Mmmm. Birdy num-nums." One of Peter Sellers' best.

LOL!!! Ian you nailed it!!! birdy num nums!!!
GP thank you for the link!
Thank you so much guys,
These two movies are lifelong favorites....and Peter Sellers' overplayed 'death scene' takes melodrama to new dimensions!!! I burst out laughing even thinking of it.