Room Conversation at Bhaktivedanta Manor-- August 29, 1977, London

I don't care for nonsense Ph.D.

Niranjana: [offers obeisances]

Prabhupada: So, how are you?

Niranjana: I am not well, actually, because neither materially nor spiritually there. I reckon I should go back, with your permission.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Niranjana: And if you think… Because I was thinking that in my case it may be helpful in preaching there. But too long everything.

Prabhupada: You are taking advantage of your work?

Tamala Krsna: Are you taking advantage of your work?

Niranjana: No, actually they are not able to understand what I am doing. So my supervisors… In the beginning, when I met you last time, at that time you said everything is okay, you can start typing those chapters. So I wrote two chapters. And then you said anything can happen, because in the area in which I work, nobody had worked before. And he was so sure.

Prabhupada: [coughs]

Niranjana: But then two professors, they disagreed with him, and thus, "It is not possible; you must repeat your results." So after my scholarship it finished in January after three years, they didn't accept my scholarship. So I just continued by doing some part-time job, tried to maintain myself. But I couldn't repeat my results 'til now. So then they have extended six months my visa. But I, actually I don't think that they are able to do, because my furnace is not working, and they don't know the reason. But they don't want to take blame on themselves, and then, "Because you are not hard-working; that is why you have given up." So I was trying to do only that, because if I leave it, it won't bring good name to ISKCON, and because they know that I am from Hare Krsna movement. But now personally it is too much for me. It's three and a half years now.

Prabhupada: I don't care for nonsense Ph.D.

Niranjana: Do you think Ph.D. is not helpful in my preaching, then?

Prabhupada: What will be the honor of one with Ph.D.? I am eating.

Niranjana: But I want to translate something, Hindi books full time, and there is the things, so…

Prabhupada: That is very good. I have written all these books not as Ph.D.-people are appreciating. Thik hai. London mem koi ayurvedic shop hai kya? [Transl. Is there any Ayurvedic shop in London?]

Niranjana: [Transl. Yes, there are two or three shops-not Ayurvedic, but Indian shops. That cyavan prash we brought for you last year was from there. If you need some medicine, just tell me.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Whose cyavan prash was that?]

Niranjana: [Transl. You said that it was Zandu's perhaps? They have Zandu's. That is the one available there. I came to know that there are two or three shops in this area.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. Is Zandu's bhaskar salt available?]

Niranjana: [Transl. They have bhaskar salt in powder. It is a good one. Dabar's too.]

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Niranjana: Dabar's.

Prabhupada: Dabar's?

Niranjana: [Transl. Yes. Yesterday we asked about that salt you mentioned in the evening. They said that it is good for gas and pain in the stomach. I'll see if bhaskar salt is available here. I may call in the evening. If Ksirodakasayi is at home, I will call and ask.]

Prabhupada: Hmm. [Transl. No, there is no hurry.]

Niranjana: So then I can return back to India and stay?

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Niranjana: [Transl. Then I can go back to India and stay? So I am thinking to go before that Bombay temple opens, and after go to that seminar in Vrndavana, next month.]

Prabhupada: [Transl. You cannot live here?]

Niranjana: [Transl. Here? If you permit me, I wish that if I am going to do a work in Hindi, then let me do it after going to India. Another thing is that my parents are in Vrndavana, and I wish to live in the temple there. If you give me permission, I'll become a full-time devotee.]

Prabhupada: In India, I have become disgusted by the behavior of the Government.

Niranjana: Yes.

Prabhupada: I am doing such a great work, and they are suspecting that I have brought some CIA.

Niranjana: I just read that news in that Hindi newspaper here in which they print that in Nadia they have got themselves a Krsna conscious asrama for CIA, and Bhavananda, he worked in high-portal rank in Vietnam, and all this. The Communist people, they are against us. So they are… The government should try to encourage our movement, rather than trying to stop it.

Prabhupada: I have so much disgust that I don't wish to return to India. I have got enough people to work here in Europe and America. Why shall I protect myself from these obstacles offered by government? A different energy is lost. Then, they are so foolish government servants. Recently they have asked me for an explanation: "You have acquired some agricultural land, so explain, or we shall punish." Agricultural land in Mayapur, say about two, three bighas, we have made a pavilion for prasadam distribution. What will be produced for two and three bighas land? What will be produced?

Indian lady: Nothing.

Prabhupada: Say practically, how many rice will be produced in two bighas or three bighas of land?

Indian lady: Well, as compared to even the amount is very less. I don't have any idea.

Prabhupada: Say about thirty mounds rice. So thirty mounds rice, how many people can you feed throughout the whole year? Hmm? And we are preparing thirty mounds of rice every week. So without any production they are eating ready-made food, three thousand per week. So how many people are feeding?

Niranjana: I couldn't say [indistinct].

Prabhupada: Throughout the whole year? How many?

Tamala Krsna: Three thousand per week, fifty-two weeks.

Niranjana: One hundred and fifty-six.

Devotee: One hundred and fifty-six thousand.

Niranjana: So why not government see this, that we're giving something?

Prabhupada: I am just speaking, all the government officers are rascals. They have no common sense. Suppose stopping for a few thousand, not over a hundred, and we're feeding so many thousands. So what is the loss there? I am asking explanation. They have stolen… Such government men are…

[makes sound of disgust]

Tamala Krsna: Harassment. That's their only business is to harass, right?

Prabhupada: Aiye.

Tamala Krsna: And take money.

Niranjana: But I mean should we protest against and fight against them and…?

Prabhupada: How can I protest them? It is folly to be wise to where ignorance is bliss. So many rascal government servants, and their determination is to obstacles, put obstacles in this movement. It will be impossible to build. My best energies are lost.

Tamala Krsna: What, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: My best energy…

Tamala Krsna: Hmm.

Prabhupada: …is lost there. They are always putting some obstacles.

Tamala Krsna: Hmm.

Prabhupada: They are under bank manager…

Tamala Krsna: Hmm. Like what happened in Juhu, how much energy you had to expend simply in the building of one project. How much? No one in their whole life could have expended that much energy that you spent there.

Prabhupada: So considering all these points from the very beginning, their suspicion and putting obstacles, I have no more desire to return back to... It is my heart's desire. Not the least desire to go back to India again.

Niranjana: But how can we spread this Krsna consciousness there? In India also we need it.

Prabhupada: No, whatever I have done is done; now do. But I do not wish to return back to be governed by these nasty laws. Most nasty. And now I can live here very comfortably. I can live in America very comfortably. Finished. In India, oh, they have put me into so much uncomfortable position that sometimes I cried. They do not have to say [indistinct]. So why this cut, cut? It is not the truth? By such treatment I have lost my health. [almost crying]

Niranjana: [indistinct] Last year which I have saw and just compared to this, I couldn't believe them from the report.

Prabhupada: I can die in London. [break] But anyone who is transcendental meditator, everyone is a rascal, magician[?]. They do not know what is God, what is bhakti, how to perform it. So cent per cent I am disgusted. I do not wish to return to India any more. For the next-next is death. In the morning when I sit down, there are nice devotees chanting Hare Krsna. I have seen. Radha-Gokulananda. I am svami; if I die in London, that is my great fortune. Why should I return to India, to feel always botheration, anxiety? Whatever I have done, I have given my will and purpose of honor; you try and maintain it. Otherwise I have no desire-nothing. I have no such sentiment, "This is my country, this is my…" If I would have been driven by such sentiment, nobody leaves Vrndavana in this condition of life. I have no special love for India. I am not that materialistic, nationalist or [indistinct].

Tamala Krsna: It is a pleasure to be here because of the devotion. It is… The devotion is everywhere, all of these devotees.

Prabhupada: There are so many nice devotees here. I am so much pleased how the boys and girls are enjoying spiritual life, dancing wonderful. Here also the Indians are not coming.

Tamala Krsna: No.

Prabhupada: So why shall I have a special affection for the India? [coughs]

Tamala Krsna: The last seven or eight… The last six or seven years you have labored so hard in India with unbelievable obstacles in each place-in Mayapur, in Bombay, in Hyderabad, in Vrndavana. Everywhere so much opposition. I don't think the American government ever gave any such opposition. Never.

Prabhupada: They are civilized men. Nasty or third-class, fourth-class men, they have no common sense with such motives. Even if we stopped feeding a few hundred men, we're giving regularly prasadam for so many lakhs of people, and still they're asking explanation, "Why you are…?" Such, I mean, nasty people are in the government. And they are on the heads of the government. How can you expect good behavior from them?

Niranjana: Do you give me permission to return to India, then? Because I am confused what to do, but now I am sure I can go back again and just give up… [break] [end]