The ghosts of Jonestown

Tuesday marks the 25th anniversary of the Joenstown tragedy where almost 1,000 people, including 200 children, belonging to the People's Temple perished by the self-administered poison because their leader thought the end was nigh and ordered them to do so. MARTIN VENGADESAN, who has long been fascinated by the incident and the power of cults, interviews Jonestown survivors and next-of-kin to offer a chilling insight into how a community can self-destruct when its members lose their ability to think or act independently. 

STEPHAN Gandhi Jones is – in the eyes of the world – the son of a mass murderer. Fortunately for him, few people recognise him. But mention “Jim Jones” and “Jonestown” and many people would make the connection.