TLC (1968) The Author
The Author
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami was born Abhay Charan De on September 1, 1896 in Calcutta. In 1920 he finished his education, majoring in philosophy, English, and economics, at the University of Calcutta. Because of his involvement in Gandhi's national non-cooperation movement, however, he rejected any formal diploma. Soon afterward Abhay Charan De took up the duties of manager of a large chemical concern. Then, in 1922, he met His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, the founder of 64 Goudiya Vaishnava Maths in India, Berlin, and London. His Divine Grace liked this educated young man and injected in him the idea of preaching Lord Chaitanya's message all over the world.
At Allahabad in 1933, Abhay Charan De was formally initiated, and in 1936, just days before His Divine Grace's departure from this mortal world, he was specifically ordered to spread Krishna Consciousness in the English language and to the West.
Thus, Back To Godhead magazine was started in 1944 with Abhay Charan De serving as editor-in-chief. Back To Godhead is now being published monthly in America by his American disciples.
The Goudiya Vaishnava Society recognised him as BHAKTIVEDANTA in 1947. In 1954 he became Vanaprastha, retired from family life. In 1959 he took Sannyasa, the renounced order of spiritual life and is now known as A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.
In September 1965, at the advanced age of 70, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami arrived in New York City to fulfil his master's sacred mission. Immediately, young Americans were attracted to him, and in July 1966, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was formally incorporated.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is the author of the remarkable Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, published in 1968 by the Macmillan Company. Presently he is working on his masterpiece, a projected 6o volume work of translation and elaborate commentary of the Srimad Bhagwatam, three volumes of which have already been published. He has also recorded a unique 33 ⅓ r.p.m. record album of the mystical mantra HARE KRISHNA, entitled "Krishna Consciousness," which has met with extraordinary popularity in India and America.