760516 - Letter to Giriraj from Pusta Krsna

From: Pusta Krishna

Giriraj das Brahmacari,

Hare Krishna Land,

Juhu Road, Juhu,

Bombay 400-054

India

May 16, 1976

My dear Giriraj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. Enclosed you will find Prabhupada’s reply to Sri Ramkrishna Bajaj’s invitation to sit as one of the Co-ordinating committee of the Gita Pratisthan on June 28, near Bombay. I think that you must have the original of this letter, as we received only a true copy of the Bajaj letter from your Bombay secretary.

In any case, I do not know the depth of Prabhupada’s intentions, however, Prabhupada said that he would interrupt his American tour if the people inviting His Divine Grace send him return airfare (tickets) from New York to Bombay and back to New York for Srila Prabhupada and His two secretaries. Prabhupada would stay in Bombay for one week, and then return to New York where Rathayatra is being held on 5th Avenue, the 18th July. It will be very glorious. Also, you know that if they agree to purchase the return tickets, then they should get Prabhupada and one of his secretaries a first class ticket. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and D. Harrison), and an economy ticket for his other secretary (P. Dossick). Also, it would definitely by necessary to break journey in London, and maybe even some other place as you know that it is unhealthy for His Divine Grace to remain in the air too long at a stretch. That is essential, so tickets must be purchased which read perhaps N.Y. – London + perhaps Tehran (I’m not certain of the flight time from London to Bombay, but if it is over 7 hours or so, we should break journey, perhaps staying in Tehran for a day or two.

In any case these instructions are there if they decide to bring Prabhupada with return for him and His secretaries. You must of course handle this with great tact, because these are important men and Prabhupada will want to cultivate them even if they refuse. But, the idea is that Prabhupada is the most important exponent of Bhagavad-gita in the world, and if they are having a prachar conference, certainly Prabhupada should be there to guide their sincere efforts. Off the record, my personal desire for Srila Prabhupada was that perhaps they could be gently persuaded to re-schedule this meeting of the co-ordinating Committee for August 15, when Prabhupada will be in Bombay…that is a Sunday. Prabhupada said that there are other members of the committee, and perhaps it is too late to change their June 28th meeting. Do the needful and report back to us the results. I am enclosing one schedule so that you can show Mr. Bajaj when and if he comes to see you that this is Prabhupada’s schedule and He will be near N.Y. when the time is ready for him to come to Bombay if they too much want Prabhupada to be there for the Conference. After all, Prabhupada can give them great guidance, and they have something desire to uplift the Indian people, and they know that Krsna has given the answers. Now they require the representative to apply things so that there will be success without any doubt.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Your servant,

Pusta Krsna Swami