Osho Rajneesh was an Indian mystic, guru and spiritual teacher who created the spiritual practice of dynamic meditation. A controversial leader, he had millions of followers worldwide, and also thousands of detractors. Confident and outspoken, he was a gifted speaker who never shied away from expressing his views on a variety of topics, even those considered to be taboo by the conservative society. Born in India into a large family, he was sent to live with his grandparents who played a major role in making him the person he eventually became. He grew up to be a rebellious teenager and questioned the existing religious, cultural, and social norms in the society. He developed an interest in public speaking and used to regularly speak at the annual Sarva Dharma Sammelan (meeting of all faiths) at Jabalpur. He claimed to attain spiritual enlightenment at the age of 21 following a mystical experience. He began his stint as a spiritual guru simultaneously while embarking on a professional career as a professor of philosophy. Eventually he resigned from his academic job to focus on his spiritual career. Over a period of time he established himself as a very popular spiritual guru not just in India but also internationally. However he also made the headlines when it was revealed that members of his commune had committed a range of serious crimes.