Construction of Thuggee: The Fabrication of Criminal Identity in Confessions of a Thug

<p>The portrayal of Thuggee by the colonizers as a pervasive and systematic practice was a calculated strategy aimed at reinforcing their dominance in India while diverting scrutiny from their administrative failures. The British endeavoured to rationalize their supremacy and maintain hegemonic influence over Indian culture by dramatizing Thuggee and accentuating its ceremonial and religious aspects. The research further explores the importance of life narratives in shaping the discourse surrounding Thuggee, particularly examining how confessions, testimonies, and memoirs were employed to construct a narrative of criminal behaviour and identity during the colonial period in India. Taylor's novel Confessions of a Thug receives special attention since it depicts the life of a Thug named Ameer Ali and the horrific reality of Thuggee. According to the study, the elimination of Thuggee in colonial discourse served as a tool for colonists to highlight their power and justify their rule while also obscuring the complex realities of Indian culture. This research contributes to a better understanding of the imperialist goal in India and its influence on beliefs of Indian culture and identity by investigating how Thuggee is portrayed in colonial narratives. </p>