Rajesh Rampal is a Chartered Accountant who has worked for several major corporations in India and internationally. He has experience in corporate finance, technology transfer, and research and development. He also spent time working for an economic think tank in India. In addition to his professional experience, Rampal has written a historical fiction book about the 19th century criminal organization Thuggee in India. He has given lectures and presentations on this topic to military and law enforcement organizations in both India and the UK. While not formally educated in history, Rampal gives battlefield tours in Delhi highlighting the 1857 uprising and has received praise from several retired British military officers for his expertise and storytelling abilities.

1. Rajesh Rampal
Rajesh Rampal is a Chartered Accountant. He has worked with premier Corporate
Sector Companies in India and in the process dealt with leading financial Institutions
of the world namely ICICI, SBI, IDBI, IFC (W) and EADB. He has also worked
during the project phase in India of two Fortune 500 companies viz. GKN plc and
Degussa AG. He was Manager Corporate Finance-I in Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited
and also looked over the financial aspects in Technology Transfer Engineering and R
& D Divisions of this company. He spent two years in Uganda, East Africa working
with Cable Corporation Ltd., set up with Japanese Collaboration- Hashimoto. He also
worked with India's premier Economic Think Tank – Indian Council for Research on
International Economic Relations, where he rubbed shoulders with many Economists
of International repute.
He has delved in Insurance, Stock Markets and Corporate Sector Training. He wrote a
book 'The Divine Stranglers- A Story of Thugs and Thuggee Sleeman' that details the
life and times of 19th century world across three continents in historical fiction form.
He has lectured and made presentations on 'Organised Crime in the Garb of religion
in 19th century India- Thuggee' in the Intelligence Bureau, National Institute of
Criminology and Forensic Sciences, India International Centre and Royal Military
Police HQ in Southwick Park, Hampshire, U.K.
He has also made presentations on 'The Siege and Assault of Delhi 1857- A Case Study
for any Army that wishes to punch above its weight' in Gurkha Museum, Winchester,
Royal Armed Medical Corps Museum and the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry
Museum in Bodmin. He also made the same presentation to the International Guild of
Battlefield Guides in London in November 2010.
Rajesh has also taken several British Army officers around the sites of Delhi 1857.
Some prominent names are General Sir Richard Shirreff, Deputy Supreme
Commander Allied Powers, Europe, General Sir Christopher Wallace former
Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies, Colonel Dr John Richardson of the
Royal Armed Medical Corps, Colonel Gerald Napier of the Royal Engineers and
author of 'Sapper VC's' and 'Follow the Sapper.'
Former BBC producers Hugh Purcell and Margaret Percy have been with Rajesh
several times on Delhi 1857 sites. Former BBC producer Philip Geddes and his team
made a Documentary 'The Devils Wind' on 1857 and Rajesh took them around for the
shoot. He was interviewed by General Sir Richard Shirreff on battle tactics in the
Documentary.
Rajesh's only claim to being a Historian is being the next door neighbour of the
famous Indian Historian Dr Bipin Chandra for nearly a decade who was his father's
colleague in the Delhi University. He has never studied History beyond the 8th
Standard!

2. Dear Rajesh, I know very well that everything you turn your hand to carries the mark of
excellence. We in the British military, in common with our brothers in India, fully understand
the importance of study of the past as a means of understanding the challenges of the present
and the future. We therefore focus considerable effort on it in our training and at our schools
and colleges.
General Sir Richard Shirreff. (Deputy Supreme Commander, Allied Powers Europe)
You were a good guide and an amusing companion. You know, you
should be on a lecture circuit giving these sorts of talks. You are a
charming, poised, lecturer - a pleasure to listen to. And you are very
erudite.
Hugh Purcell, Former Managing Editor BBC. (Writer and Film maker)
Your encyclopedic knowledge is awesome and you are a great
story teller. When we stood at the Kashmir Gate you brought
history alive for us
Brigadier Clive Elderton, Defense Advisor BHC, New Delhi (Now
Managing Director India Gate Way Ltd.)
We have been lucky to have had the expert support of Rajesh
Rampal. He has undertaken valuable research for us and given us
much advice. His understanding of the whole political and social
context of all these events and of the current geographical layout
of the sites of the military actions has been invaluable.
Late Roy T. Eve O.B.E., D.L. (Publisher, Royal Green jackets Museum,
Winchester)
The best personal battlefield tour I’ve done. Loaded and such balanced
perspectives
Group Captain Ian Draper R.A.F., Naval and Air Defense Advisor, BHC, New
Delhi (Now with British Aerospace)
Rajesh, thanks for all your help and in appreciation of your wisdom and
never ending knowledge I present my book ‘The Sapper VC’s’ and
some others too.
Gerald Napier (Former Director Royal Engineers Museum) Author of
‘Follow the Sapper’ and ‘Sapper VC’s.
Lt General Sir Christopher Wallace (Former Director Royal College of
Defense Studies) has acknowledged Rajesh Rampal in two of his books-
Focus on Courage and Rifles and Kukris.
Uprising 1857 –Delhi and Lucknow –Two Essays by Rajesh Rampal have been vetted
by Christopher Wallace and his comments are given below
The study of past battles prepares Officers and men alike for situations they might face in future.
These two essays on Delhi and Lucknow in 1857/8 bring out the importance of Leadership, Strategy
and innovative tactics not only for armed forces but for all of us.Seeking to draw Management
Lessons from the Battlefield based on the Assault on Delhi in 1857 is a novel concept; they merit
consideration in detail by Business Groups.
Lt. General Sir Christopher Wallace (Former Commandant Royal College of Defence
Studies)

3. Readers Feedback on THE DIVINE STRANGLERS
It is a good read, seriously. I liked Divine Stranglers. You have thought your way into the
subject so that it convinces the reader and has a period authenticity, I admire your
confidence in adopting a semi-fictional approach. I like your direct no-nonsense style too.
Hugh Purcell (Author and Former Managing Editor BBC)
Now that I have read 'Divine Stranglers' my son, a Detective Superintendent in the
London Metropolitan Police will get to read it.
Ron Cassidy (Author and former Curator RGJ Museum)
A masterful book about William Sleeman- all fascinating. Do come and visit us in Wales.
Nicky and Johnny Rogers
Great story line! The Divine Stranglers would make a really good movie, showing the
dilemmas of the individual boy caught up in circumstances beyond his control. Keep trying
and I will be there to support you at the premier.
Colonel Dr John Richardson (RAMC) (Retired)
A real gem –The Divine Stranglers. That you kindly inscribed it for me makes it extra
special.
Clive Elderton (Former British Defense Advisor, BHC ,New Delhi)
I very much enjoyed reading the Divine Stranglers, which I thought very well written.
Professor Stephen Slemon (University of Alberta, Canada)
Fascinating! I was glued to it till I finished it. You keep the tempo fast paced and exciting. It
would make a wonderful film. Only Sir Richard Attenborough can do justice to make a
film on your story.
Darshan Lal (Director- Monsanto Holding P. Ltd), Former Director BASF India Ltd.
"The Divine Stranglers" -found it absolutely fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the way you
introduced the background of the different protagonists, including the sympathetic portrait
of the thug Mahaveer. It was a remarkable achievement to destroy the network of Thugs.
Frank Baldwin (Chairman- Battlefields Trust, U.K.)
I absolutely adore your endeavour. The story succeeds in creating the mystique and
highlights each character sympathetically. J Sanyal (Author- Bengalee)
Your book is a Master piece! Pavani Sitaramiah (Author-Tamil & Telugu)
I found your book very interesting. S. S. Dawra IAS (Former Secretary GOI)
Good luck with Thuggee film project - I agree would be a fascinating project.......
Phillip Geddes (Formerly BBC and Communications Advisor EU)