British woman recounts sexual trauma in Indian mystic Osho’s cult

A 54-year-old woman has told of her harrowing experience growing up in the notorious sex cult of Indian godman Rajneesh. Prem Sargam, in an interview with The Times, detailed the rampant sexual abuse she endured in three sannyasin communities from the age of six.

Ms Sargam’s nightmare began at the age of six when her father left their home in Britain to join the sect’s ashram in Pune. As a sannyasin, he sought spiritual enlightenment, leaving behind Mrs. Sargam and her mother. Ms. Sargam was soon drawn into the cult, forced to change her name, wear orange robes and adopt a philosophy that viewed children as obstacles to parents’ sexual freedom.

“The other message of the sannyasin teachings, both unlawful and shocking, was quickly absorbed by those who joined the sect,” Ms. Sargam recalled. This philosophy normalized pedophilia within the cult.

I am delighted to announce the release of my new feature film, Children of the Cult, which will be released in cinemas across the UK on October 13, 2024 and will be broadcast on ITV Exposure. For more information, visit: https://t.co/TPcSRCYlVnpic.twitter.com/WPn4nM4AP5

— Maroesja Perizonius (@1pairhanden) September 11, 2024

Prem Sargam’s abuse began when she was seven and escalated to rape when she was twelve. She vividly remembered the confusion and discomfort she felt as a child within the cult. “Even as a seven-year-old, I thought what a strange thing this was,” she reflected.

Between the ages of 7 and 11, she and her friends were forced to perform sexual acts on adult men who lived in the commune.

The abuse didn’t stop there. Ms Sargam was later sent to the Medina ashram in Suffolk, alone and vulnerable, under the pretense of attending a “boarding school” program. However, the exploitation continued. By the time she was 12, Ms. Sargam had relocated to the United States and joined her mother at an ashram in Oregon.

“It wasn’t until I was 16 that I understood what had happened,” she said.

Rajneesh’s movement believed that children should be exposed to sexuality and girls should be guided by adult men during puberty. Ms. Sargam recalls: “It was considered good for the children to be exposed to sexuality.”

Founded in the 1970s, the Rajneesh cult attracted Western followers seeking spiritual enlightenment. But beneath its calm surface, the organization hides a dark secret – the exploitation and abuse of children.

Rajneesh was a lecturer in philosophy before founding his spiritual movement in Pune. From the age of 14, he advocated unrestricted promiscuity, including partner swapping. Rajneesh’s unorthodox meditation techniques and emphasis on sexual freedom earned him the nickname “Sex Guru” in India. In the United States, he was dubbed the “Rolls-Royce guru” due to his collection of 93 luxury cars.

Although hundreds of children were abused, little has been documented. A single U.S. child protective services investigation was conducted into the Oregon cult and the 2018 Netflix documentary Wild wild land The children’s experiences were ignored.

The upcoming documentary Children of the cult tells the story of Prem Sargam, along with two other British women who escaped the cult. “I want the world to know what happened to me and countless others,” Ms. Sargam said. “We were innocent children, exploited and abused in the name of spiritual enlightenment.”

The cult’s attempt to build a utopian city in Oregon led to its downfall. Rajneesh’s personal secretary, Ma Anand Sheela, was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes including mass food poisoning and attempted murder. Today there are still a small number of Rajneesh followers worldwide.