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Looking to the stars
| Date: |
18 March 2002 12:00 |
| Producer: |
Carol Albertyn Christie
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| Show: | Carte Blanche |
'I interviewed Mahendra in the beginning of September, and he said that either in the US or Israel there would be an attack of huge proportions,' says radio DJ Bob Mabena.
This was a prophecy that Kenyan-based astrologer Mahendra Shama made on a local radio station a few days before September 11 last year.
'I saw extensive terrorist attacks - buildings, big buildings ... I thought it might be a bomb, terrorists will put the bomb in the building or something like that, but it happened as something from the air,' says Mahendra.
'Further to that, he said that after the incident, the first country to respond outside the US and Israel would be the UK, and that was the case,' says Bob.
When Bob Mabena interviewed Mahendra on his radio show, he was a little doubtful, but three days later he was blown away.
'My goodness, this is so close but I didn't think about the magnitude of 911. I didn't even think that would happen,' says Bob.
A modern-day Nostradamus or a man who has simply made educated guesses?
Born to a family of astrologers in Northern India 34 years ago, Mahendra started learning about the planets at the age of eight. His grandfather, whose eyesight was failing him, relied on Mahendra to help him read the Vedic astrological charts, and passed this ancient art onto him.
'When I was 12, many people used to come to me and I used to advise them and at the same time the pictures I was making for them, they were coming quite accurately, so people were really happy,' says Mahendra.
As is tradition, Mahendra's grandfather drew up his chart at birth and this is what he saw: 'My grandfather with his hand, he mentioned that this boy will learn astrology. He mentioned that he will become well known.'
The number of people who believe they can see into the future are endless, but when Mahendra in his early 20s predicted the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, people had to take notice.
'I predicted that Michael Gorbachev will lose his job and the USSR will disintegrate. Exactly that happened after five or six days. I said that Boris Yeltsin would take over power, and exactly that happened. Everybody was in shock. That really made the people believe that this boy had something,' he explains.
Mahendra has developed his own form of complex astrology. He has honed these skills and claims that he has been pretty accurate with world events - as a 1991 newspaper about his prediction of Nelson Mandela's release reflects.
'I predicted about Nelson Mandela - he will take over power, he will become a most powerful man in the country and he will rule South Africa. The people were very scared. After I predicted they said 'No Mahendra, if Nelson Mandela will come then the country will completely break down or there will be big chaos'. I predicted 'No way, that is not indicated'. The thing happened again with Princess Diana. In 1991 I predicted that Princess Diana will have a divorce, and after the breaking up of the marriage I saw her death. I was reading her chart, and I saw, and the next day I sent a fax to a newspaper because this is her chart and this is what I see.'
Six years after his prediction, and the world mourned the death of their beloved princess.
Even Bill Clinton did not escape Mahendra's penetrating foresight.
'Second term now, I say that Clinton will win the election, but I don't see that he is completing the second term because of major scandal I see in his chart. I was very near, but still people were saying, 'Mahendra, you are very close but not 100%'.'
Mahendra says that he has an 80% success rate, but due to the world's complexity it would almost be impossible to be totally accurate:
'Every second things are changing, and you cannot think of the thousands of the millions of the things at the same time, so that is why you miss so many things in life, in predictions.'
Undaunted though, he has boldly stated his predictions for world trends and the future of 95 countries for the year 2002. In his book, which he completed 15 months ago, he speaks quite extensively about the Middle East crisis.
In it he states: 'There will be a devastating conflict in the Middle East and many countries will get involved.'
'It will be very close to the world war, because many countries will get involved. It is not something only the Israelis and Palestinians will fight, no. Many will get involved,' he says.
When asked about Osama bin Laden, he has this to say: 'According to me, the key people know where he is. I don't want to say more.'
While the Middle East seems to be heading for more bloodshed, in his book Mahendra also comments on the events that have recently taken place in Zimbabwe:
'During February 2002 to July 2002, the current President Robert Mugabe will have a bad period. If he survives he will rule Zimbabwe till November 2004. But I see a very bad ending for his social and political career. Someone young will take power and will invite back the people who Mr Robert Mugabe expelled and the new government will give them back their properties and their rights.'
What does he see for Africa? 'I think the bad days are over. We'll see results, but it will take some time ... I see that the whole continent will be completely different.'
His vision for South Africa is also unbelievably positive and shiny.
'The yellow matter - gold - will play a key role in the next 100 years,' he says.
In the past couple of months there has been a marked increase in the gold price. He believes that those countries which have oil and gold will rule the next century, and herein lies our strength.
'I see a future superpower, South Africa. Nobody will believe me, but I know time will prove,' he says.
His predictions about financial markets may be considered educated guesses but his statements on Aids and world leaders will undoubtedly test his credibility.
In his book, he states that Thabo Mbeki's popularity will play a crucial role in overcoming Aids, and that he will make very good policies for Aids victims - although popular belief says that he has done the exact opposite.
'The time will improve for him after June. Then he will be able to make decisions. Maybe he will get the right people, the right advisor... After July 4, certain good news will come. I think I will be very much right - the cure will be found in South Africa ... Maybe on the time factor I may come wrong - but one thing I know, when I am predicting something confidently, that is definitely going to happen. This is the one thing I can say 100 percent,' he says.
Mahendra believes that although the stars may push in certain directions, he hopes that his book will help people to counteract negative influences and steer the world on a positive course.
'So this is my main motto - that I will do something for the world. I want to do something for the world, and I have a great gift and through this I can guide.'
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:While every attempt has been made to ensure this transcript or summary is accurate, Carte Blanche or its agents cannot be held liable for any claims arising out of inaccuracies caused by human error or electronic fault. This transcript was typed from a transcription recording unit and not from an original script, so due to the possibility of mishearing and the difficulty, in some cases, of identifying individual speakers, errors cannot be ruled out.
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