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| '''Ma Anand Sheela''' (Sheela Silverman, later Sheela Birnstiel) was the personal secretary of the Indian guru ], later known as ], from 1981 to 1985, and the main manager and spokesperson of the ], Oregon, commune. | '''Ma Anand Sheela''' (Sheela Silverman, later Sheela Birnstiel) was the personal secretary of the Indian guru ], later known as ], from 1981 to 1985, and the main manager and spokesperson of the controversial ], Oregon, commune. | ||
| Set up under false pretences (the true size of the envisioned development was initially downplayed), the growing commune soon found itself embattled. Faced with intense hostility from Oregonians and a growing array of legal, legislative and personal challenges, Sheela's defense tactics became increasingly desperate, gradually morphing into actual criminal behaviour.<ref>Lewis F. Carter: Charisma and Control in Rajneeshpuram, page 195</ref> | |||
| Following her acrimonious split from ] and the collapse of the ] commune, Sheela served three years in prison for assault, attempted murder, immigration fraud, wiretapping and causing a food poisoning epidemic in ] that made 750 people sick. In 1988, she was released early, because of good behaviour<ref>Lewis F. Carter: Charisma and Control in Rajneeshpuram, page 237</ref>, and deported. | |||
| She now lives in Switzerland. | |||
| In Australia and New Zealand, she is remembered for popularising the phrase "Tough Titties", having used the expression to great effect in a television interview. | In Australia and New Zealand, she is remembered for popularising the phrase "Tough Titties", having used the expression to great effect in a television interview. | ||
Revision as of 23:17, 19 February 2007
Ma Anand Sheela (Sheela Silverman, later Sheela Birnstiel) was the personal secretary of the Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, later known as Osho, from 1981 to 1985, and the main manager and spokesperson of the controversial Rajneeshpuram, Oregon, commune.
Set up under false pretences (the true size of the envisioned development was initially downplayed), the growing commune soon found itself embattled. Faced with intense hostility from Oregonians and a growing array of legal, legislative and personal challenges, Sheela's defense tactics became increasingly desperate, gradually morphing into actual criminal behaviour.
Following her acrimonious split from Rajneesh and the collapse of the Rajneeshpuram commune, Sheela served three years in prison for assault, attempted murder, immigration fraud, wiretapping and causing a food poisoning epidemic in The Dalles, Oregon that made 750 people sick. In 1988, she was released early, because of good behaviour, and deported.
She now lives in Switzerland.
In Australia and New Zealand, she is remembered for popularising the phrase "Tough Titties", having used the expression to great effect in a television interview.
References
- Lewis F. Carter: Charisma and Control in Rajneeshpuram, page 195
- Lewis F. Carter: Charisma and Control in Rajneeshpuram, page 237