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 (1980-1999) 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 controversy in 2014 in Mata Amritanandmayi's Ashram. The book alleges that a senior follower of the ashram, Balu, had sexually abused the author for several years. It also alleged that Amritanandamayi behaved rudely and aggressively, abusing the author for several years.[3][4][5] After publishing the book Holy Hell, the first interview with Tredwell was published by Daily Indian Herald, an online news source.

The mainstream media of Kerala was reluctant to report these allegations. A few news sources however broke the story.[2][6] Later, other news channels telecasted exclusive interview with Tredwell in two episodes, disregarding legal notices from the Amritanandamayi Ashram. Kairali TV managing editor John Brittas went to New York for this interview with Tredwell.[7] The Ashram initiated legal proceedings against two news channels and also against news anchor John Brittas. 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 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]

Malayalam translation of Holy Hell

Holy Hell was translated into Malayalam [10] It became an immediate sensation, but the publication of the book was stayed by the Supreme Court of India following the complaints made by the Math.

References

  1. ↑ "Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness from Amazon". Amazon.com. 22 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "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.intoday.in. 23 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Amma's ex-aide alleges sexual abuse at ashram". Indiaexpress.com. 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.
  10. ↑ "Holly Hell (Malayalam translation) Release By K Venu". YouTube. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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