1976 GBC Meetings—An Opportunity Missed

Since I was still working at Emory University in Atlanta, I could not do anything concrete towards starting the Institute as Srila Prabhupada wanted, although I used to talk with Rūpanuga Prabhu about his plans and desires for the project. Rūpanuga Prabhu was most interested, and he would always encourage me. He invited all the Institute members: Madhava Prabhu, Sadapūta Prabhu, Ravindra-svarūpa Prabhu and myself to a meeting on his farm in Virginia. I told about the course outlines that I had sent to Srila Prabhupada and it was decided that these would be submitted for discussion at the forthcoming annual GBC meetings in March 1976. Srila Prabhupada also wanted me to come to the annual GBC meetings in Mayapur, so we can finalize the details of the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Unfortunately, I had applied for my Green Card and I could not leave the US. I wrote a letter to Prabhupada narrating the situation and Prabhupada replied saying that,

"If you cannot come to India there is no harm. Ordinarily, if you leave, your application will be closed. Better not to take any chances. You instruct your assistants who are coming how and what to discuss with the GBC on your behalf." [Letter to Svarupa Damodara das, 29 January, 1976]

So, I did not go to Mayapur and later I got the news that Prabhupada appointed me at the GBC meetings the 'ISKCON Minister for Higher Education'.