© 1999 VNN
|
WORLD March 17, 1999 VNN3349 Widows Of Vrindavan BY DHARINI INDIA, Mar 17 (VNN) — I had the unfortunate experience of going on a "tour bus" from Delhi to Mathura and Vrindavan. It was obvious quite soon after we left that the main point of the "tour" was to get the tourists into as many businesses of the tour operators' choice (he was obviously getting a commission) as possible. On the way from Mathura to Vrindavan, a "guide" joined us, and it became clear quite soon that his job was to drum up business for a "trust" at Vrindavan. We were led to "Yashoda and Nandji's house" where Lord Krishna was supposed to have grown up. The guide kept yelling to the crowd that those who did something for their parents at Vrindavan would go to heaven. Once we reached the house, it was a most dilapidated and dirty place, with 4 extremely emaciated widows barely whispering their chants. We were asked to sit on a very dirty rug while 2 extremely well-fed "priests" (with mustaches resembling those of Hindi movie villains) sat on a platform. They pointed to the figures of Lord Krishna and His foster-parents and started to get the people to pay either Rs. 550 (for a marble slab with their parents' name on it) or Rs. 1,100 (for marble slab + "prasad" mailed on Janmashtami day each year for the "rest of their lives"). 4 people from our bus paid, and when they bullied a fifth person he quietly said "I paid Rs. 1,100 and I'm yet to get anything". In a country with no consumer action, obviously he didn't even want to bring it up. The "priests" (who made no pretense of remitting the money, and were actually holding the rupees under their knees as they sat on the platform (!) said sternly to the man "Oh, you should have written a complaint to the Trust". None of the others in our bus seemed to find anything wrong with a group collecting funds, but not taking care of complaints right there. They explained to the group that the money was going for the "upkeep of 5,000 widows". On my way out, I dropped some money on the sack on which the widows sat, shivering. They could barely nod their thanks. I didn't need the article in "The Week" magazine to tell me about the plight of the widows. With the degradation and loss of values in society today, the widows who used to seek shelter in the free chowltries are now selling the rice-and-lentils they get (subsistence amounts to begin with) so as to pay rent and stay safe. "I would rather starve and have my honour", one of them said. I could not see what the name of the "Trust" was, but if there's anyone who reads this who can get an investigation started, it would be a much-needed service for one of the "voiceless" groups...the Vrindavan widows. If there's an organized effort to do something for the vrindavan widows I'd like to know about it. Thank you. Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/world/WD9903/WD17-3349.html
|
