WMM Book Ban Lifted by the GBC

BY: SUN STAFF

Jul 22, 2016 — NEW YORK (SUN) —

From: Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)
Date: 20-Jul-16 00:48 (06:18 +0530)
To: IIAC (ISKCON India Advisory Committee)
Cc: "Bhakti Vikas Swami"
Subject: WMM book ban lifted by the GBC

Home Base: ISKCON Baroda
Camp: ISKCON Krishna Balaram Mandir, Vrindavan, U.P.

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Namonamaha. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

This is to inform you all that the GBC has rescinded [without a public announcement] the ban on Bhakti Vikas Swami's book, "Women, Masters or Mothers?".

In this regard I have mixed feelings.

The ISKCON GBC has done the right thing by rescinding the ban.

However, after they blundered by passing the skewed resolution banning the WMM book, they ought to have had the humility to own up to their mistake and publicly announce that they made an error, and that for the record the error has been corrected.

What transpired is that the GBC had the resolution that appeared online edited, and then had a devotee telephone me to inform me of the change!

HH Bhanu Swami had informed this conference of the discussion amongst the GBC members in this regard, and I thank him for being kind enough to do so.

My suggestion to him and the other GBC members of this conference is that they ought to write to the GBC Chairman and suggest that there be a public announcement of the change. It is the morally correct thing to do in view of the adverse publicity that was generated by the fact of their earlier ban of the book!

Showing a bit of humility would set a very good example for all the devotees, I feel.

Here is the edited version of GBC resolution 313 of 2016 that now appears on the GBC website:

http://gbc.iskcon.org/gbc_res/gbc2016.html

313. "Women: Master or Mothers?"

The opinions expressed by Bhakti Vikasa Swami in his book "Women: Masters or Mothers" are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views and practices of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), or its Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

As such I am withdrawing my proposal that was to protest the ban on the book. However, if the GBC authorities do NOT come out with a public statement announcing the changed resolution, I feel that we should send them a message that it ought to be done. "Better late than never". But I will leave this for our November meeting.

Hope this meets you all well.

das,

Basu Ghosh Das
Chairman, IIAC

Facebook: Basu Ghosh Das
Skype: Basu Ghosh Das
WhatsApp: +91-94260-54308
(Text 20445)

Text PAMHO:28969425 (5 lines)
From: Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)
Date: 21-Jul-16 03:12 (08:42 +0530)
To: IIAC (ISKCON India Advisory Committee)
Cc: Bhakti Vikasa Swami
Cc: "Sesa Prabhu - GBC"
Reference: Text PAMHO:28966314 by Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)
Subject: WMM book ban lifted by the GBC - clarification on what I wrote

Clarification regarding what I wrote in my letter on the lifting of the Bhakti Vikas Swami book [Women: Masters or Mothers?"] "ban".

The GBC did not ask someone to call me -- the devotee who called me was informed of the change by a GBC assistant, and called to tell me on his own. (Text PAMHO:28969425)

Text PAMHO:28966838 (2 lines)
From: Bhanu Swami (Madras - IN)
Date: 20-Jul-16 06:34 (15:34 +0900)
To: IIAC (ISKCON India Advisory Committee) [5078]
Cc: Bhakti Vikasa Swami [201153] (received: 20-Jul-16 08:49)
Reference: Text PAMHO:28966314 by Basu Ghosh (das) ACBSP (Baroda - IN)
Subject: WMM book ban lifted by the GBC

There is supposed to be some announcement, but that also has been subject to discussion.

(Text PAMHO:28966838)

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