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Gail Tredwell

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Gail Tredwell
BornQueensland, Australia
NicknameGayatri
OccupationAuthor
Notable worksHoly Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness
Website
gailtredwell.com

Gail Tredwell (born 1958) is an Australian author. She was born in Queensland, Australia. Tredwell served Mata Amritanandamayi, known more frequently as simply Amma, for 19 years (from 1980 to 1999) as a disciple. Her autobiography, Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness,[1] was published in November 2013 by Wattle Tree Press, Maui, Hawai'i.[2]

Controversy

Gail Tredwell's biography led to a huge controversy during February to March 2014 in Kerala where the Mata Amritanandmayi Ashram is located. The book alleges that a senior follower of the ashram, Balu, had a forced sexual relationship with the author for many years. It also alleges that Amritanandamayi behaved in a very rude and aggressive manner and abused the author for many years.[3][4][5]

After publishing the book Holy Hell, the first interview with Gail was publish dailyindianherald.com, online news paper. This interview was prepared by its chief editor Mr Vince Mathew, he was living in Perth Australia, but an Indian National, Kerala, Kottiyoor resident.

The mainstream media of Kerala was reluctant to report allegations made in the book. TV channels Indiavision, Reporter, Media One TV and newspapers Thejas and Madhyamam reported the news.[2][6]

Later TV channels People TV and Kairali TV telecasted an exclusive interview with Tredwell in two episodes, disregarding a legal notice from the Amritanandamayi Ashram. Kairali TV managing editor John Brittas had gone to New York to make the interview with Tredwell.[7] The Ashram initiated legal proceedings against the two channels and news presenter John Brittas for conducting the interview. The Press Club of India asked Amritanandamayi Ashram in Kerala to withdraw the case.[8]

In accordance with an order from Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, on 11 March 2014, Kerala Police registered a case against Gail Tredwell along with media organizations who reported the news, in response to a petition.[9] The case was booked under Sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 298 (uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.[2]

Controversy before Holy Hell

Even before the publication of Gail's book Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness, an Indian author and activist right from the native place where the ashram of the Mata located, i.e., Kollam, published a book which details and reveals several incidents and mishaps that had occurred in connection with early life of Mata. The author of the book was Sreeni Pattathanam and the tile of the book was Mata Amritanadamayi - Divyakathakalum Yatharthyavum (Mata Maritanandamayi : Divine Stories and Realities). This book narrates mata's life from the beginning years, the sudden death of her older brother, Subhagan, who questioned her claim of divinity when she performed at her home to attract local people.

References

  1. ^ "Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness from Amazon". Amazon.com. 22 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Amritanandamayi mutt row: Gail Tredwell, five news organisations booked". India Today. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ^ Tredwell, Gail (2013). Holy Hell A Memoir of Faith, Devotion and Pure Madness. ISBN 978-0-9896794-0-4.
  4. ^ "Gail Tredwell stands by rape accusations against prominent Kerala Mutt priest". Indiatoday. 23 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Amma's ex-aide alleges sexual abuse at ashram". IndiaExpress. 20 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Call to bring out truth about charges against Math". The Hindu. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  7. ^ "CPM-backed Kairali TV airs interview of author who alleged sex abuse at Amritanandamayi ashram". The Indian Express. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  8. ^ "PCI plea to withdraw case". The Hindu. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Book on Amma: Petition against media organizations, others". The Hindu. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
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