ABSTRACT
Bakaullah begins by describing a time in Bengal’s past when, according to him, crimes like theft, assault and murder were rampant and the colonial govt. attempted various measures to curb dacoities, especially thuggee. It was during the time of Governor General Bentinck that the Thuggee Commissioner began searching for strong and intelligent young Indians to appoint as darogas, who could assist him in stamping out thuggee. Young Bakaullah was a student at a madrassah at the time and he recalls how thrilled and honoured he felt when the Munshi (his teacher) told him to meet the Commissioner if he wanted to be a daroga. The appointment happened the very next day and Bakaullah became a daroga in the detective department.
