Nickname Gayatri Role Writer Name Gail Tredwell | Nationality Australian Occupation Author | |
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Notable works Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness Books Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness |
Writer m ramakrishnan on gail tredwell s amma allegations
Gail Tredwell (born 1958) is an Australian writer. Born in Queensland, Australia, Tredwell served Mata Amritanandamayi, known more frequently as simply Amma, for 20 years (from 1980 to 1999) as a disciple. Her autobiography, Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness, was published in November 2013 by Wattle Tree Press, Maui, Hawai'i.
Contents
- Writer m ramakrishnan on gail tredwell s amma allegations
- John Brittas Gail Tredwell Interview Analysis Holy Hell author
- Controversy
- References

John Brittas Gail Tredwell Interview - Analysis (Holy Hell author)
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.

After published book Holy Hell the first interview with Gail was publish www.dailyindianherald.com, online news paper. This interview prepared by its chief editor Vince Mathew, he worked in Perth Australia, but 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.

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. 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.
Following a directive from the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on March 11, 2014, Kerala Police initiated legal proceedings against Gail Tredwell and several media outlets that circulated the story, based on a petition received. The charges were framed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 153A (promoting enmity among different groups on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, language, etc., and performing actions harmful to the harmony), Section 153B (making imputations or assertions detrimental to national integration), Section 295A (committing deliberate and malicious acts with the intention to insult the religious beliefs of any group), Section 298 (speaking or acting with the deliberate intention to hurt religious sentiments), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 34 (acts conducted by multiple individuals with a shared intent).
Since the publication of "Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness," various sources alleged to be personally familiar with Tredwell during her time with Amritanandamayi have come forward and described her deportment during her stay as reactive, paranoid, and obsessive. Followers of Mata Amritanandamayi present in Amritapuri at the same time as Tredwell have asserted and maintained that she often displayed erratic behavior, experiencing episodes of severe agitation and acting increasingly possessive of Amma. Though witnesses have described Tredwell's behavioral conduct in the days leading up to her cessation from the spiritual community as "unstable" and "unhinged," she has continued to defend the veracity of her claims. Amma has consistently expressed compassion and sympathy for Tredwell, saying during an interview in 2014 "Even now, Amma is only filled with love for that daughter. I am praying that virtue and goodness come. Time will shine forth the truth."