© 1999 VNN
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USA April 14, 1999 VNN3597 GBC Nixes Ad For Mahabharata BY NITYANANDA DAS USA, Apr 14 (VNN) — When Rupa Vilas Prabhu joined us in New Jaipur, Mississippi in 1987, he brought with him a 12 inch high stack of photocopied pages of a Mahabharata summary rendition done by Purnaprajna Prabhu and used for years in the Vrindaban gurukula. Borrowing it, I read it with delight and became deeply moved by the many practical lessons contained in the epic narration of the Pandavas and their service to Lord Krishna. I decided to publish the book, but it took over ten years to finally bring it to press. (see also VNN story "Shrila Vyasadeva's Mahabharata") Hand typing into the computer, editing five times, doing the layout and glossary, and finding the money to print was a long and difficult endeavor. For two years my only copy of the manuscript sat in a government warehouse while I negotiated its return. At least twice my computer crashed. Anyway, 5000 books were printed in late November, 1998. I ran to the murti of Srila Prabhupada upstairs and presented Him with the first copy, feeling a little satisfaction that perhaps I had done something good. After all, our real business is to publish and distribute books. Then I began to think about how to distribute the Mahabharata. Here in North Carolina I gave them to all my friends and acquaintances as gifts, hoping they would profit from the "Fifth Veda" as I had. Urmila and Mahendrani Prabhus' school programs received cases of free books to use in eliciting donations for their gurukula programs. Bir Krishna Maharaj and Ganapati Swami appreciated the book greatly and Satyaraj Prabhu did a review which was posted on VNN. Next, I called Hare Krishna World, formerly ISKCON World Review. I had placed New Jaipur Press ads with Hare Krishna World many times between 1992 and 1995, provided that I agreed not to advertise or "pad" orders with rtvik materials. The Vedic Village Booklist featured many hard to find books, pamphlets and devotional items, and HKW accepted my ads with no problem. However, when I approached HKW about an ad for the Mahabharata, I was advised that special approval would be required from the three editors, Rabindra Swarup Prabhu, Badrinarayan Prabhu, and Mukunda Goswami. Mukunda Goswami twice did not return my messages. Rabindra Swarup Prabhu denied my request, saying that I was "blacklisted" due to being a rtvik. He added that my ad for Purnaprajna Prabhu's Mahabharata would maybe be accepted if I recanted my rtvik views publicly, sought restitution with the GBC, and made amends for the damage I had caused ISKCON with my Vedic Village Reviews ten years ago. I explained that this Mahabharata was not written by me; I was only the publisher. Rabindra Swarup made it clear that he would not support any effort which resulted in money coming my way. I answered that I did not expect to break even on the Mahabharata printing, but he was not interested in further discussion; anything connected to me was banned from any official ISKCON publication, temple, etc. Badrinarayan Prabhu also declined my request to advertise the Mahabharata in HKW. I protested that the book itself should not be discriminated against simply because I was the publisher, and that it was a very valuable addition to the available Vedic literatures in English. He simply said, "It goes back to the old days of Vedic Village Review. Dredge your heart and you'll understand." A few weeks later, being a subscriber, I received a plea from Hare Krishna World for donations, lest the 20 year old publication cease to exist by going bankrupt. And so it was that I became very depressed. Could I no longer offer any service to or through ISKCON? No wonder so many of my godbrothers and godsisters were going to the various branches of the Gaudiya Math, or leaving spiritual association altogether. ISKCON appears to have become extremely politicized, where it matters more who you are than what service you have to offer. I remembered the story of the Bowery bum stumbling into the class at 26 Second Ave with some toilet paper and other items; Srila Prabhupada was pleased with his service. I remembered that Jayadwaita Swami had recently announced that the BBT would now sell Srila Prabhupada's books to anyone regardless of their affiliations or politics. I remembered many other times since 1977 that I had become very disheartened by how the GBC dealt with me and others. It occurred to me that the GBC must be feeling very desperate in their defense against their perceived enemies, such as rtviks, Gaudiya Math, etc. Now I have a huge printing bill, a warehouse full of Mahabharatas and little scope of advertising in ISKCON. If anyone would be interested in receiving a copy of this wonderful edition of Vyasadeva's Mahabharata as summarized by Purnaprajna Prabhu in Srila Prabhupada's mood and style, I will be happy to send one free for your inspection. Then you may either send $17.95 or the book in return. Whether I get paid or not, at least I'll be distributing transcendental literatures. If there is any way in which I may support or encourage whatever service my fellow Vaishavas and godbrothers or godsisters are engaged in, please let me know. Your servant, Nityananda das PO Box 28, Efland, NC 27243 800 242 0115 or e-mail: rivervillage@ mindspring.com Comment on this Story | Contact VNN regarding this Story
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