‘Unfortunate change, it almost breaks my heart’

Vadodara: It is unfortunate change that has caught my eyes. The cleanliness of Baroda..what it used to be is not seen any more. This is what Ma Anand Sheela, who was the personal secretary, spokesperson and a close associate of spiritual guru Osho Rajneesh in the 1980s, said here on Saturday.
Ma Sheela, the Indian-born Swiss resident, was born in Baroda. “Baroda used to be lot green.Instead, concrete buildings have come up everywhere. It has almost broken my heart,” said Sheela, recollecting how she was born in Bhutdi Jhapa area of the city in a Gandhian family from where she rose to become a powerful leader of the Rajneeshees, as followers of Osho called themselves.
But she hoped that youth will ensure that things change for the better in the city. Sheela who is in the city to attend 5th Gujarat Chhatra Sansad scheduled on Sunday said that she is also happy to see young woman finally getting recognition beyond marriage and children.
“In our times, people were more laidback. They were busy only with marriage and children. Now, I feel so proud of young woman who are finally recognising their inner strength and talent,” said Sheela, who was practically running the affairs at Rajneeshpuram in Oregon in the USA but found herself behind the bars for her role in the 1984 bio-terror attacks.
She has since then rehabilitated herself and now runs retirement homes spread over several countries. “I create paradise wherever I am. I am ready to offer all my experience in whatever field I could,” said the 72-year-old when asked whether she would start a retirement home in her hometown.
She stressed that youth should appreciate the freedom that the country has achieved after 300 years of captivity and that they should not lose basic values.