# Lives in the Shadow with J. Krishnamurti

Lives in the Shadow with J. Krishnamurti is a 1991 memoir by Radha Rajagopal Sloss (b. 1931). It chronicles aspects of the long, intimate, and ultimately contentious relationship of the author's family with the Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. Originally published five years after his death, the book's descriptions of facets of Krishnamurti's life generated a degree of controversy.

## About the work

The author's father Rajagopalacharya Desikacharya (commonly D. Rajagopal, 1900–1993), and mother Rosalind Rajagopal (⁠1903–1996⁠), were friends and associates of Jiddu Krishnamurti (⁠1895–1986⁠) for four decades; throughout this time they lived in close proximity with him in Ojai, California. While growing up, the author viewed the unconventional Indian philosopher, whom she affectionately called Krinsh, as a member of her family. Eventually, the personal and business relationships of her parents and Krishnamurti soured permanently. The acrimony culminated in drawn-out legal actions that were fully settled only after Krishnamurti's death.
Radha Rajagopal Sloss covers aspects of these relationships in some detail, but the book is best known for describing facets of Krishnamurti's private life, especially his long-term extramarital affair with the author's mother. Additionally, the book contains statements about Krishnamurti's character (and certain of his actions) that have generated controversy.

## Author statement

Rajagopal Sloss stated the following regarding the work:
   This is not only the story of one person. It is the story of the relationships of J. Krishnamurti and people closely involved with him, especially Rosalind Williams Rajagopal and D. Rajagopal, my mother and father, and of the consequences of this involvement on their lives. Recently there have been biographies and a biographical film on Krishnamurti that have left areas, and a large span of years, in mysterious darkness. It is not in the interest of historical integrity, especially where such a personality is concerned, that there be these areas of obscurity.

## Publication history

The book was originally published in May 1991 by Bloomsbury Publishing in the United Kingdom. A US edition was published by Addison-Wesley in March 1993. In September 2000, Rajagopal Sloss re-released the work through iUniverse, a US self-publishing company (see § Select editions, below).

### Select editions

* Rajagopal Sloss, Radha (March 1993). Lives in the shadow with J. Krishnamurti (hardcover) (1st US ed.). Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley. ISBN 978-0-201-63211-8.
* —— (September 2000). Lives in the shadow with J. Krishnamurti (paperback). Self-published. ISBN 978-0-595-12131-1 – via iUniverse.

## Reception

The book has been favorably reviewed by Tim Heald in The Times (London), Patricia Beer (London Review of Books), and Firdaus Kanga in the Times Literary Supplement (London). Rajagopal Sloss was interviewed about the book upon publication by Helen Tworkov, for Tricycle: The Buddhist Review magazine; the article incorporates a generally sympathetic review of the work.
The revelations regarding the extramarital affair were met with surprise and consternation by Krishnamurti adherents, and generated a measure of adverse publicity. A Krishnamurti biographer wrote that "history will not view Krishnamurti in quite the same light", yet the same author considered the long-term impact of the revelations doubtful.
Several statements about Krishnamurti present in the work have been characterized as controversial, and provoked rebuttal publications by Krishnamurti associates and affiliated institutions. An independent source has described the book as "deliberately iconoclastic".