Latest news with #WorldFestival
Mint
09-08-2025
- Business
- Mint
The divine hustler: How Osho monetized mysticism
In the chiaroscuro world of spirituality and commerce, Chandra Mohan Jain (more popularly known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and later as Osho) stands as a true prototype of the guru who used multi‑million‑dollar messaging to build a global business in meditation and mysticism. Long before mindfulness went mainstream and gurus trended on Instagram, Osho was branding spirituality with the flair of a luxury startup, leveraging charisma, psychology, and sharp marketing instincts to set up a highly profitable and equally controversial business. Born in 1931 in Kuchwada, a small village in Madhya Pradesh, Osho started his career as a philosophy lecturer in Jabalpur. His public talks, initially free, then paid, resonated with the educated elite and a growing cadre of wealthy patrons started funding his retreats and lectures. The Osho enterprise By the early 1970s, he had initiated thousands of sannyasins into his cause. Clad in ochre robes and sporting new spiritual names, they were the harbingers of a global movement led by a bearded oracle. Shrewdly, the new-age guru didn't just gather followers; he transformed them into customers. The meditation camps, therapy sessions, and one-on-one darshans were duly monetized as the rich and famous flocked to his Pune ashram in search of enlightenment—though they also found 'free love", a call to open sexuality that was unique to the place. While the eager disciples sought peace, Osho's staff were busy tallying their growing riches. The movement accelerated with Osho's relocation to Oregon in 1981. Here, in a place called Wasco County, he and his followers purchased a 64,000‑acre ranch to build Rajneeshpuram, a self‑contained city with its own airstrip, bank, police, and university. For variety, it also boasted a disco and malls. This was the heart of the Osho enterprise, with followers paying thousands for therapy courses that ranged from the exotic to the more exotic. The enterprise was on a roll, such that a week-long World Festival in 1984 attracted 15,000 participants who spent over $10 million in admissions, accommodations, souvenirs, and sessions. The whole operation was predictably opaque with a corporate labyrinth of entities, including Rajneesh International Foundation (RIF), Rajneesh Investment Corporation (RIC), Rajneesh Services International Ltd (Switzerland), and niche verticals like The Rajneesh Modern Car Collection Trust used to channel funds, hold assets, and mask financial flows. The Rolls-Royce—nearly 90 of them—besides fueling Osho's lifestyle, added to his mystique. Along with the diamond-studded Rolex watches, these were symbolic tools in a carefully crafted display of wealth and freedom. The dark underbelly But hidden away from the public eye was the movement's dark underbelly. By the mid‑1980s, legal and financial allegations started surfacing. The commune was implicated in immigration fraud and misusing tax exemptions to smuggle foreign donations. A former disciple, Helen Byron, filed a lawsuit against Rajneesh Foundation International, leading to a federal trial in Portland in 1985 and an adverse judgment for the guru. Bigger scandals lay in store, none more infamous than the 1984 case where followers led by his closest ally, Ma Anand Sheela, carried out a salmonella-biological attack in The Dalles, Oregon, in a bizarre plot to influence local elections. The lady was convicted and sent to prison, and shortly after that, Osho was arrested too. He pleaded guilty to immigration violations and was deported in 1985. Osho returned to Pune, where he died in January 1990. At the time of his death, his net worth was believed to be over $100 million, mostly in intellectual property, real estate, brand licensing, and the residual value of a global spiritual enterprise. While the commune had collapsed, its material hangover continued unabated. In 2000, nearly 10 years after his death, the Osho brand in the US was said to be generating over $25 million a year through seminars, licensing and corporate stress-management programmes. A 2018 Netflix series, Wild Wild Country, reignited interest in the criminality of the cult. But it was another documentary, Children of the Cult, which threw light on the worst aspect of the movement—child sexual abuse. It spotlighted the shocking treatment of children who were included in the orgies, all in the name of free sex. It should have served as a warning to the world that the mosaic of spirituality and business often masks evil. Clearly, it didn't. Osho, the spiritual libertine turned spiritual capitalist, continues to inspire many of today's godmen and spiritual influencers who have adopted facets of his model, including charisma‑based global branding and retreats that double as resorts. Who knows what horrors lie beneath these business-savvy management apparatuses? For more such stories, read The Enterprising Indian: Stories From India Inc News.
TECHx
12-02-2025
- Science
- TECHx
TECHx Media UAE's FIRST LEGO League 2024-25 National Winners Announced
The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) 2024-25 season, hosted by ATLAB, a subsidiary of Centena Group, in collaboration with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and LEGO Education, announced the national winners from across the UAE during the grand finale of the 'CHALLENGE' category on February 9, 2025. The event celebrated the creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork of young innovators from 42 teams, who excelled in robotics and STEM. Team 'ACE' from the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences took home the Champion's Winner Award, while Team 'PELAGIC PIONEERS' from DPS Sharjah earned first runner-up and Team 'METAL MECH' from Gems International School – Al Khail secured second runner-up. In the Robot Performance category, Team 'SEATROTTERS' from Gems Millennium School – Sharjah claimed victory, with Team 'ACE' as first runner-up and Team 'MARINE X' from Gems Millennium School Sharjah taking second runner-up. For Robot Design, the winner was Team 'AQUA RAPTORZ' from DPS – Sharjah, with 'SEATROTTERS' and 'CODEBREAKERS 2.0' from Emerging Stars Institute finishing as first and second runners-up. The Innovation Project award went to Team 'MAWJ MYSTERY MASTERS (M CUBE)' from DPS – Sharjah, with Team 'HYDRATECH' from Mayoor Pvt School and Team 'NMS HYDROBOTS' from Gems New Millennium School taking the runner-up positions. Team 'AIS_TECHTITANS' from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School won the Core Values award, with 'ABYSSAL EXPLORERS' from Abu Dhabi Indian School and 'DIAEH TEAM 2' from Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hill securing the first and second runner-up spots. Additionally, the Motivate Award was presented to Team 'REEF RANGERS' from Diyar Private Academy Early Years and Girl's Campus Dibba, Fujairah, in recognition of their exceptional team spirit and commitment to the core values of the competition. The winners in the 'CHALLENGE' category were assessed based on their robot design, performance, innovation projects, and core values. As the Champion's Winner, Team ACE has qualified for the international competition at the World Festival in Houston, Texas. Selected teams will also compete in international competitions across the globe, including Greece, South Africa, Australia, and the USA. Charbel Najjar, the coach of Team ACE, expressed, 'This competition provided a dynamic platform to showcase our innovative ideas and gain valuable experience in problem-solving, teamwork, and STEM skills. We look forward to continuing our participation in similar competitions.' Nilesh Korgaonkar, CEO of ATLAB, emphasized the importance of initiatives like FIRST LEGO League in inspiring real-world solutions. 'These exceptional projects may inspire solutions that could be adopted at an international level. We're proud of all the participants and winners who seized this opportunity.' Esteemed professionals from various backgrounds, including institutions and universities across the UAE, served as judges for the competition. The grand finale was further enriched by the presence of Rasna Hussain, CCDI Teacher and Trainer at the UAE Ministry of Education, whose expertise spans robotics, STEM training, AI, and machine learning. In alignment with the UAE's vision to foster a knowledge-based economy and empower future generations, ATLAB's continued support for STEM education through initiatives like FIRST LEGO League plays a vital role in nurturing young innovators and contributing to the nation's aspirations for innovation and excellence in STEM fields.
Mid East Info
11-02-2025
- Science
- Mid East Info
ATLAB announces winners of ‘FIRST® LEGO® League,' recognising UAE's young innovators in robotics - Middle East Business News and Information
A total of 42 teams across the Emirates participated in the Grand Finale. Champion's Winner Award – Team ACE from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Science to compete in international-level competition at the World Festival – Houston, Texas. The FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) 2024-25 season, hosted by ATLAB, a subsidiary of the Centena Group, in collaboration with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and LEGO® Education, announced the national winners from across the UAE during the grand finale of the 'CHALLENGE' category on February 9, 2025. The awards recognised young innovators from 42 participating teams for their exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills and teamwork in robotics and STEM. The Champion's Winner Award was presented to Team 'ACE' from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, with Team 'PELAGIC PIONEERS' from DPS (Delhi Private School) – Sharjah as first runner-up and Team 'METAL MECH' from Gems International School – Al Khail as the second runner-up. In the Robot Performance category, Team 'SEATROTTERS' from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah emerged as winners, followed by Team 'ACE' from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences first runner-up and Team 'MARINE X' from Gems Millenium School Sharjah as the second runner-up. The winners for Robot Design were Team 'AQUA RAPTORZ' from DPS – Sharjah, with Team 'SEATROTTERS' from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah as first runner-up and Team 'CODEBREAKERS 2.0' from Emerging Stars Institute as second runner-up. The Innovation Project award went to Team 'MAWJ MYSTERY MASTERS (M CUBE)' from DPS – Sharjah , with Team 'HYDRATECH' from Mayoor Pvt School as first runner-up and Team 'NMS HYDROBOTS' from Gems New Millennium School – Al Khail as second runner-up. Finally, the Core Values award was won by Team 'AIS_TECHTITANS' from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School, while Team 'ABYSSAL EXPLORERS' from Abu Dhabi Indian School secured first runner-up position and 'DIAEH TEAM 2' from Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hill secured the second runner-up position. This year, the competition included the Motivate Award, which was presented to Team 'REEF RANGERS' from Diyar Private Academy Early Years and Girl's Campus Dibba, Fujairah in recognition of their exceptional team spirit, enthusiasm, and commitment to the core values of the FIRST® LEGO® League. Charbel Najjar, the coach of Team ACE from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences said: 'The competition provided us with a dynamic platform to exhibit our innovative concepts and gain valuable experience in the realms of problem-solving, teamwork, and STEM-related skills. We aim to carry this experience forward and continue to participate in similar competitions.' The winners in the CHALLENGE category were assessed on the basis of their robot design, performance, innovation projects and core values. Team ACE that received the Champion's Winner Award are qualified for the international-level competition, which is held in the USA at the World Festival – Houston, Texas. Apart from this, selected teams will compete in the international competitions across the world; AIS_TECHTITANS from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School in Greece, SEATROTTERS from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah in South Africa, AQUA RAPTORZ from DPS – Sharjah and METAL MECH from Gems International School- Al Khail in Australia and PELAGIC PIONEERS from DPS – Sharjah in USA. Nilesh Korgaonkar, CEO of ATLAB said: 'The exceptional projects created by these innovators may not be directly implemented, but they might inspire real-world solutions at an international level or adopted by organisations or countries associated with FIRST® . This competition is a platform for students to showcase their creativity, gain valuable experience and contribute to solving real-world problems. We are immensely proud of all the participants and winners who seized this opportunity. To ensure high-quality evaluation, we meticulously selected judges with expertise in STEM education and robotics.' The teams were judged by esteemed professionals from different backgrounds, representing institutions, universities and schools across the UAE from both governmental and private organisations. This year's grand finale was further enriched by the presence of special guest Rasna Hussain, a CCDI Teacher and Trainer at the UAE's Ministry of Education, whose expertise spans Robotics, STEM Training, artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. In line with the UAE's vision to foster a knowledge-based economy and empower future generations, initiatives like the FIRST® LEGO® League play a vital role in nurturing young innovators. By providing a platform to showcase creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, ATLAB reaffirms its commitment to supporting the nation's aspirations for innovation and excellence in STEM fields.
Web Release
11-02-2025
- Science
- Web Release
ATLAB announces winners of ‘FIRST® LEGO® League,' recognising UAE's young innovators in robotics
The FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) 2024-25 season, hosted by ATLAB, a subsidiary of the Centena Group, in collaboration with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and LEGO® Education, announced the national winners from across the UAE during the grand finale of the 'CHALLENGE' category on February 9, 2025. The awards recognised young innovators from 42 participating teams for their exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills and teamwork in robotics and STEM. The Champion's Winner Award was presented to Team 'ACE' from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, with Team 'PELAGIC PIONEERS' from DPS (Delhi Private School) – Sharjah as first runner-up and Team 'METAL MECH' from Gems International School – Al Khail as the second runner-up. In the Robot Performance category, Team 'SEATROTTERS' from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah emerged as winners, followed by Team 'ACE' from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences first runner-up and Team 'MARINE X' from Gems Millenium School Sharjah as the second runner-up. The winners for Robot Design were Team 'AQUA RAPTORZ' from DPS – Sharjah, with Team 'SEATROTTERS' from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah as first runner-up and Team 'CODEBREAKERS 2.0' from Emerging Stars Institute as second runner-up. The Innovation Project award went to Team 'MAWJ MYSTERY MASTERS (M CUBE)' from DPS – Sharjah, with Team 'HYDRATECH' from Mayoor Pvt School as first runner-up and Team 'NMS HYDROBOTS' from Gems New Millennium School – Al Khail as second runner-up. Finally, the Core Values award was won by Team 'AIS_TECHTITANS' from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School, while Team 'ABYSSAL EXPLORERS' from Abu Dhabi Indian School secured first runner-up position and 'DIAEH TEAM 2' from Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hill secured the second runner-up position. This year, the competition included the Motivate Award , which was presented to Team 'REEF RANGERS' from Diyar Private Academy Early Years and Girl's Campus Dibba, Fujairah in recognition of their exceptional team spirit, enthusiasm, and commitment to the core values of the FIRST® LEGO® League. Charbel Najjar , the coach of Team ACE from Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences said : ' The competition provided us with a dynamic platform to exhibit our innovative concepts and gain valuable experience in the realms of problem-solving, teamwork, and STEM-related skills. We aim to carry this experience forward and continue to participate in similar competitions .' The winners in the CHALLENGE category were assessed on the basis of their robot design, performance, innovation projects and core values. Team ACE that received the Champion's Winner Award are qualified for the international-level competition, which is held in the USA at the World Festival – Houston, Texas. Apart from this, selected teams will compete in the international competitions across the world; AIS_TECHTITANS from Abu Dhabi International Pvt School in Greece, SEATROTTERS from Gems Millenium School – Sharjah in South Africa, AQUA RAPTORZ from DPS – Sharjah and METAL MECH from Gems International School- Al Khail in Australia and PELAGIC PIONEERS from DPS – Sharjah in USA. Nilesh Korgaonkar, CEO of ATLAB said: 'The exceptional projects created by these innovators may not be directly implemented, but they might inspire real-world solutions at an international level or adopted by organisations or countries associated with FIRST®. This competition is a platform for students to showcase their creativity, gain valuable experience and contribute to solving real-world problems. We are immensely proud of all the participants and winners who seized this opportunity. To ensure high-quality evaluation, we meticulously selected judges with expertise in STEM education and robotics.' The teams were judged by esteemed professionals from different backgrounds, representing institutions, universities and schools across the UAE from both governmental and private organisations. This year's grand finale was further enriched by the presence of special guest Rasna Hussain, a CCDI Teacher and Trainer at the UAE's Ministry of Education, whose expertise spans Robotics, STEM Training, artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. In line with the UAE's vision to foster a knowledge-based economy and empower future generations, initiatives like the FIRST® LEGO® League play a vital role in nurturing young innovators. By providing a platform to showcase creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, ATLAB reaffirms its commitment to supporting the nation's aspirations for innovation and excellence in STEM fields.
