Spring Break
Prof's book chronicles life as 'chosen one' of cult
Author teaches creative writing, advises literary magazine on campus
By Marjorie Dugan
in NewsIssue date: 5/7/09 Section: News
Jayanti Tamm's experiences with a cult can be traced back to her birth. The cult's leader, Guru Sri Chinmoy, told the story of how she, when only a few hours old, folded her hands together as if in a prayer and bowed her head to him. He announced she was the "chosen one" and was called down to earth to serve him.
Tamm, instructor of English and literature at OCC and adviser to the student literary magazine Seascape, has recently published a book titled Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult; her publisher, Harmony Books, a division of Random House, released the book Apr. 14.
In the book, Tamm tells her life story of being involved in a cult. She describes what it was like being brought up by Chinmoy, the leader of a religious cult in Queens. Tamm said Chinmoy declared himself "the final avatar, the final representative for God on earth, and out of where she was living, to make her homeless. They defied him.
"If I hadn't had their support, both emotional and financial, I don't know what would have happened to me," Tamm said. Her parents left the group in 2002. She said they were very supportive while she was writing the book. Her brother and an aunt, however, are still part of the group and will not allow her to have any contact with them.
"The book was not intended to be a harsh exposé of Chinmoy, and it's not meant to defame the members; its solely my own experiences of growing up in this bizarre world," Tamm said. "The book gives the development of the cult from its founding in America and how it changed and evolved over time."
Tamm added the cult claims to have 7,000 members and 300 meditation centers around the world.
After receiving major re-views for her book, Tamm said, "It has been overwhelming and incredible, the outpouring of support I have received from so many people, from colleagues here at work, my department, my students, to other former disciples and just people over the world through e-mails and letters."
Tamm, instructor of English and literature at OCC and adviser to the student literary magazine Seascape, has recently published a book titled Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult; her publisher, Harmony Books, a division of Random House, released the book Apr. 14.
In the book, Tamm tells her life story of being involved in a cult. She describes what it was like being brought up by Chinmoy, the leader of a religious cult in Queens. Tamm said Chinmoy declared himself "the final avatar, the final representative for God on earth, and out of where she was living, to make her homeless. They defied him.
"If I hadn't had their support, both emotional and financial, I don't know what would have happened to me," Tamm said. Her parents left the group in 2002. She said they were very supportive while she was writing the book. Her brother and an aunt, however, are still part of the group and will not allow her to have any contact with them.
"The book was not intended to be a harsh exposé of Chinmoy, and it's not meant to defame the members; its solely my own experiences of growing up in this bizarre world," Tamm said. "The book gives the development of the cult from its founding in America and how it changed and evolved over time."
Tamm added the cult claims to have 7,000 members and 300 meditation centers around the world.
After receiving major re-views for her book, Tamm said, "It has been overwhelming and incredible, the outpouring of support I have received from so many people, from colleagues here at work, my department, my students, to other former disciples and just people over the world through e-mails and letters."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
New Jersey Movers
posted 2/08/10 @ 1:49 PM EST
Wow, it sounds like she had a very unique experience. It's a side of society that most people never experience, so it's interesting to read about what it was like growing up in that community. (Continued…)
Post a Comment