GUNGA DASS

Gunga Dass is the son of a rajah but, after the Raj overthrew his father, he became consumed by greed and a need for vengeance.

Dass was created by H. Gregory Hill and continued by Coutts Brisbane and Anthony Parsons. See Master Crook of the Orient: A Brief History of Gunga Dass.

Gunga Dass is a Hindu, the son of a rajah from northern India. His father's rule was despotic, but — due to his opposition to the Raj — he was eventually dethroned and was killed fighting against the British. Dass, though merely a boy at the time, had been married according to the custom of his people. He and his wife fled into the jungle where, some weeks later, the girl contracted black cholera and died. Dass became a wanderer, learning the secrets of the jungle, becoming a master of occult sciences, an accomplished hypnotist, and a follower of Kali, the Goddess of Death.

Twenty-five years prior to his first clash with Sexton Blake, Dass was made a Subadour-major in the service of the Emperor. However, when a white officer accused him of stirring up sedition among the Pathans at Peshawar, Dass could not refute the charge and was drummed out of the service. He became a soldier of fortune, and as a serang in the services of the B— company, he visited many countries. Eventually, he settled in Ghanapoor and gained a position as major-domo to the rajah.

To serve is not in Gunga Dass's nature. He bided his time, kept his eyes open, and when the opportunity arose, he made his move.

Chronology:

1. The Idol's Eye (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 198, 1921)
Lady Hartley's wedding gift to her daughter Lilah — a large ruby — is stolen and the woman is found unconscious next to a dead Hindu. Sexton Blake follows clues that lead to Gunga Dass. The detective follows the man to India where Dass is returning the jewel to the temple from which it was many years ago stolen. However, Dass's motives are villainous. He knows that his reward will be a promotion to the position of temple treasurer, giving him access to a vast wealth of jewels that he intends to steal. Blake exposes him and has him arrested. Dass manages to escape.

2. The Case of the Rajah's Son (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 217, 1922)
Dass masquerades as the son of the Rajah of Gjanapore and arrives in London to collect a fortune in jewels that had previously been sent to the capital to be re-set. When he frames a girl for a crime she didn't commit simply to keep her out of the way, Sexton Blake is called in. The detective uncovers the plot and saves the girl and the jewels but Dass manages to get away.

3. The Golden Goddess (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 248, 1922)
Gunga Dass, leading a gang of Thugees, kidnaps police chief Colonel Chesholm with a view to forcing him to disclose the secret hiding place of the treasure of Ameer Khan. Blake and Tinker accompany the colonel's son, Jim, to India to rescue the captive Britisher. When they succeed in their mission, Dass vows on the shrine of Kali to kill Blake.

4. The Rajah of Ghanapore (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 262, 1922) Upon the death of his father, Prince Habib Bundra takes the throne of Ghanapore. However, he is immediately kidnapped and replaced by a disguised Gunga Dass, who immediately begins to foment discontent at British rule. Sexton Blake is sent to India to investigate but is captured and imprisoned. Tinker begins to suspect that Dass is up to his old tricks and takes the first available ship to India. Blake escapes only to encounter Peri-Ru, the childhood bride of the prince. They flee but are hunted by leopards, cornered, and recaptured. Tinker arrives and enters the palace in disguise. He gives the girl his costume and she leaves the palace to alert the police. In the morning, Dass is astonished to find Tinker beneath the girl's veils. Succour arrives in the nick of time. Dass is arrested and shipped to Britain to finally face trial for the murder.

5. The Return of Gunga Dass (UNION JACK issue 1,006, 1923)
Gunga Dass escapes Death Row by exchanging identities with a priest. Years ago, Dass was paid to steal a religious artefact. Now, with a big reward being offered for its return, he goes after his former employer, Abraham. When Sexton Blake gets hold of the map identifying the coastal cave where the artefact was hidden, Dass murders Abraham before travelling to the hiding place on the same ship as the detective. Upon arrival, Dass swims to the cave but becomes trapped in it by the tide. The solitude plays on his superstitious mind and drives him to the brink of insanity. He is washed out to sea with the turning tide. Blake retrieves the artefact before finding evidence that Dass has survived his ordeal.

6. In Darkest Madras (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 284, 1923)
Three months have passed since Sexton Blake last pitted his wits against those of Gunga Dass and now, in India, he and Tinker run into the crook again. Dass has kidnapped a girl to sacrifice to Kali. The detectives rescue her and destroy the god's temple and its followers but Dass then recaptures her and holds her to ransom. After many tribulations, the detectives save the girl and run Dass to ground. The crook is delivered to the British authorities for trial.

7. The Adventure of the Renegade Spy (UNION JACK issue 1,021, 1923)

8. The Man with the Limp (UNION JACK issue 1,037, 1923)

9. The Golden Lotus (UNION JACK issue 1,057, 1924)

10. The Shrine of Kali (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 317, 1924)

11. The Great Museum Mystery (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 319, 1924)

12. The Loot of the Nana Sahib (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 1st series issue 335, 1924)

13. The Hunchback of Hatton Garden (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 11, 1925)

14. The Riddle of the Amber Room (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 102, 1927)

15. The Crime of Gunga Dass (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 534, 1936)

16. The Trail of the White Turban (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 550, 1936)

17. The Masked Man of the Desert (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 587, 1937)

18. The 'Allah's Eye' Conspiracy (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 638, 1938)

19. The Harem Mystery (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 671, 1939)

20. The Case of the Crook Rajah (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 681, 1939)

21. The Secret of Oil Creek (THE SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY 2nd series issue 710, 1940)