Posted June 30, 2003

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We had to spend all of last week in Kolkata trying to get our computer fixed, so I went to the Sri Sri Radha-Govinda Temple to take darsan of Srila Prabhupada's early childhood pastime place and take photos.

Coming down Mahatma Gandhi Road towards the crossing with Ravindra Sarani, I saw an old gate leading into the courtyard of an old building. It was Mallik's Sri Sri Radha-Govinda temple. I went in and had a beautiful darsan of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, to whom Srila Prabhupada is connected so intimately.

Some time ago, Brahmananda Prabhu told us that They are actually the root Deities of ISKCON, as Srila Prabhupada told him that it is by Their mercy his mission became successful and ISKCON came into being.

The pujari, Durgapada Das, is a nice person. I chanted my Gayatri there and then took a few photos. I felt sad to see the condition of the place. The outside is practically in ruins. The inside looks a little better.

Just a few meters from the Radha-Govinda Temple, on the opposite side of the road, there is a house where Srila Prabhupada lived for some time in his childhood, and his school was just around the corner from there.

It turns out that some members of the Mallik family are still living in that house. They were asking about different older devotees, and they remembered the time when Srila Prabhupada first brought his Western disciples to Kolkata. These people were just small children and teenagers then, but they still remember the devotees, especially Acyutananda Prabhu, who obviously made a strong impression on them.

I feel that Srila Prabhupada wants these places to be revealed. Time, uncaring people, and smoky Kolkata air are destroying these places of such great spiritual importance. Although in a rundown condition, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda temple is still extraordinarily graceful.

Maybe we ISKCON devotees should think seriously about revealing Kolkata as Srila Prabhupada's birthplace to the whole world in a big way.

In August 1977, at the International Book Fair in Moscow, the Russians gave the devotees a certificate thanking the BBT for their significant contribution to world peace. When the devotees gave it to Srila Prabhupada, he was happy and started showing it to everyone who came to see him. "Look!" he would say, "I got a diploma from the Soviet Union."

I was just thinking, wouldn't Srila Prabhupada be happy if devotees made the necessary arrangements and endeavors to push for a Nobel Peace Prize for him! What to speak of other possible awards, like one for outstanding literary work, for example. There are different ways of recognizing someone, like the Padma Bhusan award in India or the Nobel prize. Every country has something like this.

I can't help wondering, Why hasn't Srila Prabhupada's name been put forward for these prestigious awards?

In Kolkata, the nearest subway station to Radha-Govinda's temple is called Central. Such a useless name! It seems obvious that we devotees should push for having it changed to Srila Prabhupada's name.

All over the world, karmis are screaming about their celebrities and leaders and worshiping their birthplaces. Why don't the devotees?

Your servant,
Vrindavan Lila Devi Dasi

© dipika.org June 30, 2003