The fact file on Gregory David Roberts.
* Born June, 1952, Melbourne, Australia
* Founder member, Anarchist People’s Liberation Army, 1969
* Union activist, Builders Labourers Federation, 1972
* Founder member, Australian Independence Movement, United Front Against Fascism, 1973
* Student Leader, Melbourne University, occupation of university Council Chambers, 1974
* Student Leader, Black Week Aboriginal Activism Movement, 1975
* Marriage break-up, loss of daughter in custody dispute, beginning of heroin addiction, 1976
* Armed robberies with toy pistol to support heroin habit, end year 1977
* Capture and imprisonment, 1978; Escape from Maximum Security Pentridge prison, 1980
* Helped by motorcycle gang, BLF Union, & revolutionaries to escape to New Zealand, 1980
* Fight conservation campaign to save sacred Maori mountain, Mount Maungahiha, 1981
* Escape from custody (twice) in New Zealand, end 1981
* Arrive in India, beginning 1982
FROM 1982 to 1990
* Six months in remote Maharashtrian village, learn to speak Marathi language
* Live in Bombay slum, establish and operate free clinic for slum dwellers
* Imprisoned in India for 4 months
* Recruited by Bombay mafia, training in currency crime, gold smuggling, passports
* Gunrunning operation to unit of mujaheddin fighters in Afghanistan
* Wounded in action, evacuated to Pakistan, recover and return to Bombay
* Appointed controller mafia forgery unit, write short stories, published in
popular series
* Passport smuggler to Nigeria, Zaire, Iraq, Iran, Mauritius, Sri Lanka
* Establish casting agency for foreign extras in Bollywood movies, act in movies
* Arrive in Germany, work as singer, establish rock band, receive recording
contract
* Manhunt by European police, escape custody in Italy & Switzerland, escape
to India
* Act in Bollywood movies & TV dramas, establish travel agency in Bombay
* Passport smuggling to Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Nigeria, Zaire, Mauritius,
etc.
* Break with Bombay mafia council, freelance drug smuggling missions to Europe
FROM 1990 to 2011
* Captured Frankfurt, 1990, imprisoned in Preungesheim prison with terrorists,
1990-91
* Teach myself to read & write German, win concessions, extradited
to Australia, end 1991
* 2 years solitary confinement, 4 years mainstream prison in Australia,
begin novel, 1991-97
* Develop philosophical and cosmoogical model, "Resolution Theory"
* Released from prison, begin novel 1997, end parole 2002
* Sell rights Shantaram, in USA (St. Martin’s Press) & UK (TimeWarner
Books UK)
* Publish Australian edition of novel, Shantaram, August, 2003
* Tour Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UK, Ireland, Hong Kong during 2004
* Sell movie rights to Johnny Depp, Brad Grey, Graham King, Warner Brothers,
October 2004
* Sell Italian Translation rights to Neri
Pozza, October 2004
* Begin writing screenplay for movie version of Shantaram, October 2004
* Established movie, music & print production company, Shantaram Productions, in Bombay, January 2005.
* French, German and Spanish translation rights sold, 2005.
* Public speaking tours in Europe and Australia, through 2005.
* Established fully self-funded charity “Alliance of Retired Gangsters & Outlaws” in Bombay, January 2006.
* Norwegian, Polish, Lithuanian, Albanian, Serbian, Chinese, Portuguese, Turkish, Korean, Swedish, Russian, Estonian and Marathi translation rights sold, 2006.
* Begin support work for International Peace Day initiative, Peace One Day, December 2006.
* Begin work with The Elders co-ordinating committee, provided philosophical guidance in the form of foundational documents, and working constitution, 2007.
* Begin year-long consultancy to major international corporation as in-house philosopher, redesigning the philosophical structure of the company to make it meet the highest ethical and environmental standards, 2007.
* Expand Bombay Charity from one motorcycle and bicycle repair shop to two, January 2008.
* Write screenplay for movie, “Allegra”, April 2008.
* Complete the architectural structure of new novel, The Mountain Shadow, which is sequel to Shantaram, and third book in the Shantaram Trilogy, August 2008.
* Marriage to Princess Francoise Sturdza, September 2008.
* Book tour of Norway with Morten Harket, September 2008.
* Writing of new novel, The Mountain Shadow, begins September 2008.
* Begin consultancy with Zeitz Foundation for Intercultural Ecosphere Safety, October 2008.
* Language translations for Shantaram reach 32 languages, January 2009.
* Redesign Harley Davidson motorcycle (2009 model Rocker C), and rebuild begins with Black Way Choppers, February 2009.
* Musical collaboration with Riccardo Cocciante begins at Verona, May 2009.
* Third “Happy Cycles” Charity project motorcycle and bicycle repair shop opens in Bombay, June 2009.
* Work as Ambassador for Medecins Sans Frontieres leads to fund-raiser speech in Zurich, July 2009.
* Speech to World Investment Group in Zurich, August 2009.
* Language translations for Shantaram reach 38 languages, December 2009.
* Major fund-raising Gala Dinner for Heart For India Foundation, Geneva, April 2010.
* Ride motorcycle from Geneva to Venice to visit Johnny Depp on set of “The Tourist”, June 2010.
* Five and a half month intensive writing session for new novel, The Mountain Shadow, in Perth, Western Australia, begins July 2010.
* Redesign of Harley Davidson Rocker C motorcycle two-thirds complete, March 2011.
* Work begins on text for Resolution Theory book, May 2011.
* Writing of new novel, The Mountain Shadow, passes half-way point, June 2011.
* Operation for replacement of damaged hip, June 2011.
* Operation for replacement of damaged knee, September 2011.
* Work on redesign of Harley Davidson Rocker C complete, October 2011.