720821 - Letter to Mahamsa written from Los Angeles

Letters by Date, 1972

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

August 21, 1972

Camp: Los Angeles

My dear Mahamsa,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 10, 1972. Of course, as you are devoting your time for selling flats, membership collection has reduced, that I can understand. But I am glad to learn that everyone is fully engaged and that the Deities look very beautiful and majestic. And many people are coming daily for prasadam and aratik. Please keep the standard very rigidly and our temple will become more and more popular. I am also glad to learn that a respectable gentleman like Mr. Kejriwal and Captain Singhal will help us in recruiting life members to the extent of one lakh. Actually if it so happens I think that our financial problem in India will be settled up. It is very encouraging to note that big magnates in Bombay are appreciating our program and they are coming forward to help us. Please keep our relationship with them very clean and friendly. From your letter I understand that there are only 80,000 square feet covering all the flats. Is that all right? Anyway if we collect 65 lakhs by selling flats, and 25 lakhs by donation I think that will cover our expenditure on Hare Krishna Land. We have to pay Mr. Nair 14 lakhs and I do not know what is the estimate for the whole building and temple. I do not know whether the conveyance deed for the land has been legally handed over to us. I am anxious to know it. I understand that you are going to begin the construction by the end of Sept., but that is not far away. So far laying the foundation stone, the ritualistic ceremony was performed you know in the month of March last when I was there, and if it is really a fact that the President Giri will come to lay down the foundation stone along with me for the second time, I shall welcome this suggestion. The stone slab is already there in Bombay and we have to add the name of President Giri also on the slab and set it up on the proper place of the foundation of temple. On the 20th of Sept. there is Vamana dvadasi or the Appearance of Lord Vamandeva as well as Appearance day of Srila Jiva Goswami. Will this day be suitable for the ceremony? This is on the 20th of Sept, Wednesday. So if Mr. Somani can arrange for Mr. Giri’s presence on that day, and let me know definitely so that I can arrange my program in that way. You have written to say that all intelligent people in India are worried for the demoniac govt., but I can assure all of them a good govt. in India if the intelligent class take part seriously in this KC movement. Nowadays everywhere the government is democratic. Therefore any party who is able to take the mass of people in its favor, it is not difficult to take hold of the government. Therefore if the intelligent class of men in India take serious part in this KC movement, they can take over charge of the government and there will be no cause of worry.

Regarding the school, we want students from respectable families and we charge a fee of 100 rupees per month from the parents for [?], [?] and coaching. We can accept some students free of charge also by selection. We want to teach through English medium only KC education plus history, geography and mathematics. Our aim of education will be to train the students for becoming future preachers. Some of them can take [?] to their father’s business. To become brahmacaris, there is no objection, but if they are coming from low grade family, it will be difficult for us to train them, but if we charge fee nobody will come from low grade family. So we have to make a scheme like that. Actually we want boys from respectable family.

Regarding you statement of bank account, I shall study and later on give you my opinion. Lastly, I may inform you, during the time of Rishi Kumar, 34 thousand was to be paid to me which was my personal money. Out of that a portion was paid back but as for the balance I did not hear from you. Kindly let me know about this.

Hoping this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami