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Thuggee

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Religion

The Resume

    Born in India
    Kali worshiping sect of thieves and murderers that existed in India from circa 13th century until the late 19th century
    Although usually Hindus, they also had Sikhs and Muslim members
    Their name is derived from an Indian word meaning conman and gave us the English word 'thug'
    They were usually organized in small family centered groups that passed down membership through the generations like ninja or the mafia

Why they might be annoying:

    They operated in small groups by joining traveling convoys in pre-railroad India. After gaining the trust of the larger group they would (usually at night) launch a surprise attack strangling and robbing their victims.
    'The Guinness Book of World Records' estimates they killed up to two million people over a 300 year period.
    The Hindu religion and even the worship of Kali does not in any way justify theft and murder.
    They would sometimes spare the lives of small children but only to enslave them and/or initiate them into their cult.

Why they might not be annoying:

    They were wiped out by the British during their occupation of India.
    Ironically, considering their preferred mode of murder was strangling, the British usually executed them by hanging.
    It's not like they were the first or last religion to justify murder in the name of religious belief.
    They've been the subject of some really cool TV shows, books, and movies like 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.'
    Their ability to keep their existence and activities secret for so long was incredible. Indeed, some people still don't believe they ever existed, considering them fairy tales or an excuse for the British to crack down on the Indian people.
    The British campaign against them gave rise to the use of modern police techniques such as tracking criminal activities across different jurisdictions and the use of insider informants, who would be exiled rather than executed.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 25 Votes: 16.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 40 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 30 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 473 Votes: 79.92% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 65 Votes: 56.92% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 36 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 36 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 26 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 113 Votes: 76.99% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 91 Votes: 64.84% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 206 Votes: 54.37% Annoying