Will Gauri das be Gifted his House?
BY: KRSNA DASA
Jan 29, UK (SUN) — I'd like to make some comments on the recent article written by Jaya Kesava das in regards to Gauri das’s house.
The title of the house Gauri das currently lives in is registered to the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS LIMITED. The house was purchased on the 6th of October, 2003, for the sum of 383,500 GBP. Assuming a conservative 7% annual appreciation, its current value can be estimated at just over 500,000 GBP. This converted into US$ makes the house worth around the1 Million mark.
Gauri das is supposed to be paying rent to the Manor for the use of the house. As the Bhaktivedanta Manor does not operate with the transparent and accountable open-door policy that a UK charitable institution should have, we do not know how much rent, if any, Gauri das is actually paying to the temple for the use of this little five bedroom mansion.
Over time there has been much speculation on the contents of Gauri das’s contract. If it was reasonable, it would benefit both Gauri das and the Bhaktivedanta Manor management to come forward and make it public. In this way they would dispel all doubts.
If Gauri das will get to actually keep the house as part of his contract, although some would deem it inappropriate, such tactic would be in keeping with the “tradition” of the Bhaktivedanta Manor. This “tradition” was started by Akhandadi das, after he spearheaded the campaign to save the Manor from being shut down. The devotees at the Manor raised funds from the patrons and life members of the temple to buy an estate in Wales. The money was raised with the understanding that the estate was to belong to ISKCON.
Akhandadi das hijacked the estate for himself. It is today worth several million pounds. He uses it for wedding receptions, ceremonies and conferences, where the guests are served wine. For a comprehensive list of the wines you can expect to enjoy at Buckland Hall, click here, then scroll down and click on the link "Weddings at Buckland hall, and then scroll down again and click on the link "Celebration Wine List".
Akhandadi das is a capable manager, and he turned the fate of the Bhaktivedanta Manor. Under his leadership the manor went from being in debt to being one of the wealthiest ISKCON temples in the world. He did this by developing a financially successful preaching scheme targeting the Indian community. He is considered to be the man responsible for the “Hindufication” of the Bhaktivedanta Manor. Years after he had retired as President of the Manor the management from the temple still paid him an exorbitant hourly figure for advice.
Pranabhandu das, one of the senior managers at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, joined as Bhakta Prakash, without a dime to his name after being involved with the fundraising at the Manor for a number of years. One day he bought himself a house which he paid for in cash. Somehow, almost magically, he did not need to take out a mortgage for the purchase. Today his house is also worth somewhere in the million US$ region. The late Tribhuvanath Prabhu at the time questioned the provenance of the funds and challenged the legitimacy of the purchase, but to no avail.
Seeing all this, it is quite possible that similar arrangements have been made for Gauri, at the end of his term.
In ISKCON we have a mentality that over the years has allowed our leaders to literally get away with murder, yet we accept a society where there is no place for a basic right such as freedom of speech and our leadership is unaccountable. This resembles Fascism more than Vaisnavism.
This system of blind and complete acceptance of our leadership might work if our leaders were Rajarshis. Unfortunately as Kali’s influence has been present and active for a long time in the higher circles of ISKCON, it is our responsibility to demand transparency as our leaders do not have a track record of volunteering it.
You will note that in the somewhat recent events concerning Balabhadra, the GBC's did not ostracize him for inhumanely abusing his disciples and his position of power. The GBC still offered him a life pension, honor and respect. Balabhadra was excommunicated when he disregarded the GBC’s instructions. Somehow this was considered worse than beating his disciples till they were bleeding…
As Jaya Keshava pointed out, it is proven beyond doubt that Gauri das abused the children in the Gurukula. If he was a man of honor he would have volunteered his public apologies and resigned a long time ago. Had he done that, it would have been to his great credit.
The denial of his mistakes, his fighting back and his attempt to hold onto his position for dear life shows no regret and an unhealthy attachment to his position and the benefits that come with it.
The nature of the upcoming verdict by the CPO in the case of Gauri das will speak volumes on our society’s current stance on child abuse.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
