Cult of a Dark Hero: Nicholson of Delhi

by Stuart Flinders

In September 1857, a member of a religious sect killed himself on hearing the news that the object of his devout observance, Nikal Seyn, had died. Nikal Seyn was, in fact, John Nicholson, the leader of the British assault that recovered Delhi at the turning-point of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. What was it about Nicholson that prompted such devotion, not just from his religious followers, but from the general public? And why is he no longer considered a hero? The man called 'The Lion of the Punjab' by his contemporaries and compared to General Wolfe of Quebec, and even to Napoleon, has in recent times been dubbed 'an imperial psychopath' and 'a homosexual bully'. Yet his was a remarkable tale of a life of adventure lived on the very edge of the British Empire; of a man who was as courageous as he was ruthless, as loyal to his friends as he was merciless to those who crossed him. But it is also the story of how modern attitudes to race and Empire have changed in the years since he died.
Previously unpublished material, including the diaries of contemporaries and personal letters, helps build a new perspective on Nicholson's personality. The book considers his sexuality and ambivalent attitude towards religion. It traces his murderous thoughts towards the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab, John Lawrence, and reveals that, remarkably, the Nikal Seyni cult continued into the 21st century. This is the first book-length biography of Nicholson for over 70 years. A new account of the Irish soldier who became an Indian God, an examination of the cult of a dark hero, is long overdue.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 20, 2023

Reviews

[Simon McCrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Nicholson in life and in death was a polarising character. To the Victorians and subsequent generations he was a hero, a colossus that strode over the British Empire. Latterly his memory was demonised and he was held up to be everything that was wrong with British rule in India.

This excellent biography gave a very balanced view of this man and I felt provided a fair assessment of John Nicholson both through the lens of modern day but also through the standards, morals and emotions of the time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to any reader who has an interest in this period of history and particularly of India.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting biography of one of the British heroes of the Indian Mutiny.