Darkness at Dawn: The Life and Death of Swami Nischalananda

This book profiles the many facets of the man who impacted the lives of thousands of people - young and old, scholars and lay people, affluent and underprivileged, Black and White. This was rare in apartheid South Africa, further characterised by a landscape featuring strong divisions in Hindu culture. His travels in India satisfied his childhood curiosity about the Hindu religion, and he was ready to resurrect the practice and philosophy of Hinduism in South Africa. The book traces the successive incidents that led to the death of the Swami - from the events preceding his death, painting a picture of how the killer or killers translated their motive, means and opportunity into a heinous crime that deprived the Hindu movement in South Africa of an intelligent and promising leader. The arguments advanced in the book also eliminate the possibility of suicide. Despite the fact that he had received several death threats and was prepared for death, he did not contemplate taking his own life. From the author's close association with the holy man it is clear he had neither the inclination nor the motive to commit suicide. Quite the contrary - he had grandiose plans for the future transformation of Hinduism in South Africa. A soul tormented by the false promises of a disciple who let him down, he sought the peace and tranquillity of his cave located next to the Umgeni River in Durban - his final abode before his death. Described as "a man for whom duty was paramount and a standard life not an option" he was a rare individual.