The Pioneering years of wonderful Struggle in ISKCON, the year is 1972

[gauragopala dasa]

 

 

The Pioneering years of Wonderful Struggle in ISKCON, the year is 1972

 

 

In April 1972, the Melbourne City Council in Australia began a Campaign to try and move the Hare Krishna devotees away from the City streets. This struggle with the Council would continue on for another three years.

Not only were we now continuously harassed on the streets by Council, we were also harassed in our own Temple with middle of the night Police raids looking for devotees who had never paid their fines for Chanting on the streets, distributing books and performing drama plays in the City square.

Upananda Prabhu (Srila Prabhupada’s first initiated disciple in Australia) was first approached by the Melbourne City council in April of 72 about chanting in the streets and fines placed on our Sankirtan Van; Upananda humbly explained to these gentlemen that everything belongs to Krsna. He strongly told them, in the mood of Srila Prabhupada, that they should be assisting and allowing the devotees of Lord Krsna to park freely while we performed Kirtan or chanting Hare Krsna through the streets of the City of Melbourne and performing Drama plays in the City square.

The Council officers couldn’t believe what they just heard. With a look of complete bewilderment at Upananda’s totally fearless bold proposal, the Council officers angrily said “Are you on drugs, you must be on something, I’ve never ever heard anything so preposterous!” Upananda in his always-calm layback gentle voice replied “No, we don’t take any drugs, we don’t need that nonsense because we chant Hare Krsna and what I suggested, you should all seriously consider, you can even chant with us if you like during your lunch break”

Hearing what they considered a smart ‘so and so’ answer, they ordered Upananda to immediately get the devotees to cease chanting on the City streets, stop performing drama plays that depict the wonderful past times of Lord Caitanya and His devotees, and stop parking illegally. Of course, that never happened. Eventually as the harassment intensified, we nick named the head Council officer ‘Kamsa’ because of his determination to get rid of the Hare Krsna devotees. He looked really mean to us with his ‘square jaw’ that became a second nick name for him amongst the devotees.

In those days, in-between chanting on the streets, and distributing Back To Godhead Magazine, we would put on colourful plays in beautiful costumes during lunchtime in the city square or at the Melbourne University. These Dramas would attract huge crows, sometimes hundreds of people however; we were always ready for the Council or police to pounce. One time we had a big fire yugna (sacrifice) in the City Square to perform a devotee marriage in view of the public. We started the fire, began chanting various mantras, attracting a big crows then all of a sudden, the police, fire brigade, and Council Officers came from all direction nevertheless, we all got away, including bride and groom.

Over the next few months however, many devotees did get caught and went to jail over the Councils so-called illegal street chanting and Dramas that were simply beautifully glorifying God.

Back in those days, we had devotees chanting eight hours a day through the city streets, even while other devotees were putting on plays at the Uni or City square, In both situations, we were always dogging City Council officers and Police.

In spite of this, nothing could stop us, we new we had Srila Prabhupada guiding us, we were therefore determined to practise our civil right and publicly glorify God no matter how determined the Council were in trying to stop us. We had Krsna on our side.

As a further protest, as earlier explained, we also refused to pay any our traffic fines that our Van accumulated everyday. We would continue doing this until the Council allowed us our 'human right' to glorify Krsna on the streets of Melbourne with out harassment from the Council Officers and the Police.

It got to the point where EVERY Council officer looked for our Van during the day as depicted in the cartoon.

So, for the next three years, they just kept giving us traffic tickets that we refused to pay and fines for chanting (Sankirtan) we also refused to pay. So every day they chased us in cat and mouse style pursuit, locking up those they caught for 'chanting Hare Krsna' on the streets or performing Dramas or plays. Eventually we would accumulate $60,000 in traffic fines and thousands of more dollars in 'chanting on the street' fines.

On another occasion in late 1972 that for the first time, attracted enormous media coverage, Kurma Prabhu ACBSP and myself were caught and arrested for chanting Hare Krsna in the City; I was playing mrdunga drum and Kurma leading with cartels. In a surprise show of heavy aggression, the police and City Council Officers swooped on our party of 14 brahmacaris and matajis, devotees ran in all directions but Kurma Prabhu and myself were slowed down due to protecting the clay mrdunga and carrying large Krsna Books.

Most of the time I would get away from ‘Square Jaw’ and his Council cronies, as I was very athletic in those days however, on this occasion we got busted and dragged away to Jail. This was my second visit to jail within two months for chanting Hare Krsna and Kurma’s first.

At Police Headquarters, Kurma and I were questioned and refused bail and spent the night in the City Watchhouse (jail). The Police were, for some reason, very annoyed at us and wouldn’t provide bail due to what they called, ‘not cooperating’. The fact was, we did cooperate. They separated us for an interview and we answered their questions honestly. The officer who interviewed me, asked my name, I replied “Gauragopala dasa”, spelling it out slowly for him to write down. “That’s a long name” he replied. I thought to myself, Wow, you think my name is long and chuckled under my breath, ‘you’ve heard nothin yet’

He then asked me for my father’s name, “Do you really want to know that “ I answered

“Yes, we haven’t got all day, just give me his name,” The officer demanded. So slowly, I began to give my fathers name to him so he could write it down as I was spoke,

“Jaya om Vishnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacharya ashtottara-shata Sri Srimad His Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada" and at the end in a louder voice I shouted "ki jaya!"

The officer looked at me with this dumb surprised annoyed look of bewilderment, thinking I was being smart so and so and disrespectful to him however, I kept repeating that this WAS my fathers real name in full. In the end the officer just gave up and threw us in jail

The next morning we went to court, we refused to pay the fine, and were sent straight to Pentridge prison for a 10-day sentence. As we were being taken, away Cittahari Prabhu told us that Madhudvisa Prabhu ACBSP said we should make a stand and austerely fast

So, as a further protest to let the Council know their laws in this case, were unjust, Kurma and I refused to eat their boga and began a fast.

I also remembered an encouraging quote from the American Civil rights leader Martin Luther King at who was assassinated four years earlier; he was a hero to me before I met Srila Prabhupada, King once said,

“An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law’.

Anyway, the prison authorities never separate us and locked us in the same cell. We chanted with our fingers like the way we do the gayatri mantra because they had confiscated our beads however, they did allowed us to keep our devotee clothing. I scratched on the wall ‘Krishna’s devotees were hear, chant Hare Krishna and be free’

Within an hour, food was pushed through a small opening at the bottom of the door, knowing our vegetarian diet, they presented us with boiled potatoes, peas, beans and pumpkin with an added written note from the prison cook, ‘blessed food’. We put the food aside and refused to eat it.

In the meantime, back at the Temple, Cittahari and Sanaka Prabhus were getting phone calls from the media and were told that as long as we are in jail, we would protest by fasting.

The interested by the media was very supportive; also believing it was unjust to throw us in jail for something we strongly believed in, agreeing with Cittahari that there was no harm to anyone chanting Hare Krsna on the streets. For the first time, our imprisonment attracted the attention of the public

The next day an article appeared on page three, a stand out page in all Newspapers with the heading ‘Two Hare Krishna devotee’s fast in Jail for their right to publicly glorify God’

In the meantime, at the jail, we were escorted down for breakfast, which turned out to be a little comical. Radio talk back been debating our plight and many prisoners had listened to this on the prison Radio, so, on seeing us, nearly all of them stood up in a tongue in cheek jester of respect, with some saying in a singing mood ‘Hare Hare Krishna Krishna’ with a few imitating our dancing.

Again, Kurma and I refused to eat Breakfast, and offered it to other prisoners with a quick ‘Hare Krsna’ offering before giving it to them. The food hall full of prisoners then went into a roar with prisoners cheering, some again singing Krishna Krishna.

It maybe hard to believe with hardened criminals that no one was rude to us or offended or threatened us while we were in prison.</B> It was truly an amazing experiences. We had heard other devotees had problems but on this occasion, you couldn’t get a ‘nicer’ bunch of blokes who all rooted for us to fight on and win our freedom to chant the name of God publicly.

So, for the few days, the Prison Guards just kept us in our cell, only bringing us out for breakfast and lunch, which we refused. At night our Supper was pushed through the opening in the bottom of the door, always with the written note ‘Blessed Food”

In the meantime, a debate was going on in outside the prison walls due to the huge media interested Some members of the public were concerned about our health due to fasting, after all we were just young teenage boys at the time

[gauragopala dasa]

On the fourth day of our fast, in the evening, as usual, food with the written message ‘blessed food’, was passed to us, it was toasted bread. Usually we would just push it aside but this time, due to feeling the pangs of starvation, Kurma, who also was a excellent cook, picked it up and wondered if they made the bread in the jail or if it was brought in from outside. At that moment, a guard looked through the peep whole, saw Kurma with the bread in his hand, and yelled out,’ They are now eating, the monks have broken their fast!’ Today, 36 years later, we can now look back and see the historical importance of it all. Although, back then we did have a sense that we were pioneers doing something very special and unique at the very beginning of Lord Caitanya's new world religion (Sankirtan Movement).

 

Yes, we were Australian pioneers of the Hare Krsna Movement and had this sense that Prabhupada’s ISKCON creation would eventually captivate ALL the world. We didn't just believe it, we new it. We new that gradually ISKCON would mature to become selflessly pure and committed to Kord Caitanyas Sankirtan all over the world, starting a Golden Age of Spirituality in every Nation on the Planet.

Quickly news got out that our fast was suposedly broken however, by this time, our fate had already been sealed. The few days we had fasted had already attracted the attention of important political leaders going right to the top of levels Parliament. Many letters to the Editors of major newspapers, along with talk back radio shows, had demanded we be allowed to freely practise our religion on the streets of Melbourne..

Also, there was a public outcry by Television Actors, Musicians and Artists, even a song written about our imprisonment by the famous musician Matt Taylor entitled ‘Krishna Loves You too’ that later went on his ‘Straight As A Die’ Album in 1973.

 

In this way, the Minister of Prisons, Brain Dixon was compelled to act; he had now personally taken an interest in our case. He actually came to Pentridge with his secretary and spoke to us, then complained to the Prison Warden that these young boys should not be in this Jail. He immediately ordered our release.

Outside the Jail, there was a blissful kirtan lead by Madhudvisa, and then the guards opened the gates and released us. I clearly remember Cittahari Prabhu hugging us with tears of ecstasy running down his checks, his ecstatic emotion was very moving and also bought tears to my eyes.

This was only the very pioneering beginning of out struggle with the Melbourne City Council, that would go on for another three dreaded years. Melbourne was a very conservative City back then, tucked away 'down under' a long way away from the rest of the World.

 

Even though the Government Minister Brian Dixon and the majority of the public was on our side, many City Councillors were determined to ban us from the streets. Keep in mind, back then in Australia in 1972, we still had in place the ‘white Australia policy’, which meant it was very difficult for anyone of colour to take up residency or citizenship here. And here we were introducing Krsna Consciousness to the conservative Australian public

When Srila Prabhupada eventually came to Melbourne a year later, the Minister of ‘Prisons and Housing and Sport’ Brian Dixon, came to see him and Srila Prabhupada thanked Mr.Dixon for releasing his Spiritual children from jail. I remember that Srila Prabhupada preached to him and his lady friend very sturdily about the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness.

So eventually as the years passed, we did eventually win our struggle. The Council wrote off the money in an agreement that included us legally chanting on the streets. To this very day, we have never been harassed since. Some years ago, the then Mayor of the Melbourne City Council would often have lunch at Gopals Restaurant that is directly across the road from the City Hall.

 

Also, one final note, many years later, in the mid 1980s, I ran into the Council Officer we humorously called Kamsa and 'square jaw'. He was with his son and had long ago retired. He was very apologetic explaining that no one back then could work out how we all ticked. He then said he admired the many devotees who stood up for what they believed in, finishing our conversation by saying,

“My Son is a student at RMIT and often visits Gopals Restaurant, I don’t think I’m a bad person, I was just doing my job. You know, I did read some of those books we confiscated and also heard your Spiritual Leader speak at the Melbourne Town Hall. It took me awhile to understand, but I now see his teaching are giving direction and understanding to so many young people today who follow his example.”

 

We shook hands, I said Hare Krsna and he replied 'Hare Krsna' The mercy of Lord Caitanya can deliver ANYONE, all we have to do is sincerely ask for His mercy.

The cartoon below appeared in the Sun Newspaper, Melbourne Australia's biggest daily in 1972

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Here are the words to Matt Taylor’s song ‘Krishna Loves You Too’ that was released as a single in 1973

 

 

 

“Things are getting bad when you can’t practise your religion,

Walk through the streets, giving all the love you can to Krishna.

Elohim, God, or Allah, the name doesn’t matter

Love is a commodity you can’t put a price on,

People who love life give to one another,

 

 

 

 

‘Cos God's in me, God’s in you.

 

Yes, City Councillors, Krishna loves you too!

 

 

When you go to church on Sunday to hear a sermon

They pass round the plate, are you telling me it’s begging?

Is God a one-day affair, the next day you don’t care?

Krsna people make the city streets a temple

What’s wrong with living your religion every second

If God’s in me, God’s in you?

Parking attendants, Krishna loves you too.

 

 

 

 

I remember Christians thrown to the lions,

Because their faith was seen as defiance.

But now I see Centurions in Blue, ain’t nothing new.

Religion’s not exempt when it comes to revolution

Each step along the way is plagued by persecution,

Still, God’s in me, God’s in you.

Mr Policeman, Krishna loves you too.

 

 

 

 

Salvation Army playing on the corner,

Turned-on our folks in another era, but now I see

God remains the same, forms of God have changed.

Now you’ve heard my story, just forget your fear,

And chant ‘Krishna’ every day

And your world will ’come clear

‘Cos God’s in me, God’s in you.

Yes, every human being, Krishna loves you too.

(Krishna, Krishna, shine your light on me.....)”

 

 

 

 

 

Kurma Prabhu being dragged away to jail for Chanting Hare Krishna on the streets of Melbourne Australia in the early 1970s

 

 

 

 

Hari Bol, By your fallen servant Gauragopala dasa

 

 

 

[Svarupa]

 

Most of the time I would get away from ‘Square Jaw’ and his Council cronies, as I was very athletic in those days however, on this occasion we got busted and dragged away to Jail. This was my second visit to jail within two months for chanting Hare Krsna and Kurma’s first.

At Police Headquarters, Kurma and I were questioned and refused bail and spent the night in the City Watchhouse (jail). The Police were, for some reason, very annoyed at us and wouldn’t provide bail due to what they called, ‘not cooperating’. The fact was, we did cooperate. They separated us for an interview and we answered their questions honestly. The officer who interviewed me, asked my name, I replied “Gauragopala dasa”, spelling it out slowly for him to write down. “That’s a long name” he replied. I thought to myself, Wow, you think my name is long and chuckled under my breath, ‘you’ve heard nothin yet’

He then asked me for my father’s name, “Do you really want to know that “ I answered

“Yes, we haven’t got all day, just give me his name,” The officer demanded. So slowly, I began to give my fathers name to him so he could write it down as I was spoke,

“Jaya om Vishnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacharya ashtottara-shata Sri Srimad His Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada" and at the end in a louder voice I shouted "ki jaya!"

The officer looked at me with this dumb surprised annoyed look of bewilderment, thinking I was being smart so and so and disrespectful to him however, I kept repeating that this WAS my fathers real name in full. In the end the officer just gave up and threw us in jail.

 

I love reading these blissful pastimes of the devotees

[gauragopala dasa]

Another time at the Melbourne City Square in 1972, we put on a drama performance of Jagai and Madai showing how these two aparadhis became saints by the mercy of Chaitanya and Nityananda Prabhus simply by chanting the Holy Names

Upananda and Nataraj Prabhu's played the part of Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura who went from door to door and brought a portion of the ocean of love of God­head to every home. Some persons appreciated the request of the Lord so much that they immediately began chanting Hare Krishna, while others promised to do so later on. In this way, their preaching was very effective. However, during their preaching they happened upon two drunken brothers names Jagai and Madai. These brothers were the lowest among men; indeed, there wasn't a single sinful ac­tivity they had not performed.

Lord Nityananda thought that if He could deliver these drunken rascals then Lord Caitanya's fame would be broadcast far and wide. Therefore, He approached the rogues and requested them to chant. Jagai and Madai flew into a rage and began chasing Lord Caitanya’s messengers with the intention of harming them. Later on, Lord Nityananda mercifully arranged to meet the two drunks again, on the bank of the Ganges. Once again He requested them to chant, but one of them threw a piece of broken pot at the Lord, cutting His head.

The other drunk tried to restrain his brother for the protection of the Lord. In the mean­time, Lord Caitanya heard about this incident and came run­ning to the spot. He immediately called for His Sudarsana cakra (his disc weapon).

His intention was to kill the rogues but Lord Nityananda explained about the good qualities of the brother who tried to help Him and Lord Caitanya softened. Lord Nityananda, by His all-merciful desire, delivered the two drunken rogues to the lotus fret of Lord Caitanya, and they could under- stand that Lord Caitanya had saved them by His causeless mercy. After this, Jagai and Madai became purified and were accepted as the dear associates of the Lords

The play was going well, Sanaka had got the help of a young hippie in the crowd to burst out and act out the part of Jagai who throws a piece of broken pot at Lord Nityananda played by Nataraj.

Both acted their parts so well that it attracted two passing Police officers thought it was a real violent assault.

 

They saw Nataraj fall to the ground with what looked like blood (it was actually toato source) from his head. The young hippie playing the part of Jagai would then run to the end of the city square, then return, the problem was, the two police officers thought it was real and chased the young hippie with guns drawn and Sanaka chasing the Police yelling "It's only a play, it's only a play!!'

[suchandra]

Nice biography of the early days, which also appeared at dandavats.com and planetiskcon.com, and will be surely also published as a book. Seems there were very similar pattern all around the globe when Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement started to take off and become established as a worldwide institution. Of course wherever one was involved, one considers this as the most extreme, for me the central Europe pioneering years of wonderful struggle were not exceeded by anything else. In any case what can be added, there was a struggle from outside, could be that this struggle from outside was also triggered, at least slightly, from the struggle inside?

By now, 2008, the movement is now fully turned into a private property with private owners and as a saying goes,

 

 

"Because, as it is said in English proverb, “Proprietorship turns sand into gold.” If I, one has got the sense that “I am the proprietor of this business,” so he works very hard, and he turns sand into gold."

Bhagavad-gītā 4.19

by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Bombay, April 8, 1974

 

 

proprietorship is a great impetus to make things more successful, could be that therefore the resistance from outside was diminished to almost nil?

 

Only thing lacking behind is a newly composed constitution for the newly restructured ISKCON movement but since there's is an extra website put online, http://www.iskconconstitution.com/, this will also be accomplished soon, as the saying goes, when I'm the proprietor, I work hard.

[realist]

 

 

Yes, we were Australian pioneers of the Hare Krsna Movement and had this sense that Prabhupada’s ISKCON creation would eventually captivate ALL the world. We didn't just believe it, we new it. We new that gradually ISKCON would mature to become selflessly pure and committed to Kord Caitanyas Sankirtan all over the world, starting a Golden Age of Spirituality in every Nation on the Planet.

 

 

 

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Gauragopala dasa in background with his Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada

 

[realist]

 

Also, one final note, many years later, in the mid 1980s, I ran into the Council Officer we humorously called Kamsa and 'square jaw'. He was with his son and had long ago retired. He was very apologetic explaining that no one back then could work out how we all ticked. He then said he admired the many devotees who stood up for what they believed in, finishing our conversation by saying,

“My Son is a student at RMIT and often visits Gopals Restaurant, I don’t think I’m a bad person, I was just doing my job. You know, I did read some of those books we confiscated and also heard your Spiritual Leader speak at the Melbourne Town Hall. It took me awhile to understand, but I now see his teaching are giving direction and understanding to so many young people today who follow his example.”

 

We shook hands, I said Hare Krsna and he replied 'Hare Krsna' The mercy of Lord Caitanya can deliver ANYONE, all we have to do is sincerely ask for His mercy.

The cartoon below appeared in the Sun Newspaper, Melbourne Australia's biggest daily in 1972

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<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

 

 

 

 

[Svarupa]

 

Nice biography of the early days, which also appeared at dandavats.com and planetiskcon.com, and will be surely also published as a book. Seems there were very similar pattern all around the globe when Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement started to take off and become established as a worldwide institution. Of course wherever one was involved, one considers this as the most extreme, for me the central Europe pioneering years of wonderful struggle were not exceeded by anything else. In any case what can be added, there was a struggle from outside, could be that this struggle from outside was also triggered, at least slightly, from the struggle inside?

By now, 2008, the movement is now fully turned into a private property with private owners and as a saying goes,

 

"Because, as it is said in English proverb, “Proprietorship turns sand into gold.” If I, one has got the sense that “I am the proprietor of this business,” so he works very hard, and he turns sand into gold."

 

Bhagavad-gītā 4.19

by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Bombay, April 8, 1974

 

proprietorship is a great impetus to make things more successful, could be that therefore the resistance from outside was diminished to almost nil?

 

Only thing lacking behind is a newly composed constitution for the newly restructured ISKCON movement but since there's is an extra website put online, http://www.iskconconstitution.com/, this will also be accomplished soon, as the saying goes, when I'm the proprietor, I work hard.

[suchandra]

What leads to the next question, the unfolding timetable of Lord Caitanya's prediction of having a Golden Age on this planet. After all, this pioneer struggle cannot be something in vain. As we see at the symptoms, planet earth was filled up after Lord Caitanya's appearance 500 years ago, with huge contingents of jivas evolving upwards from the 7 lower planetary systems. This evolving of jivas from the lower planets is still going on and not yet completed. Now when all these jiva are assembled on planet earth the next thing what will happen is that huge contingents of powerful Vaishnavas as well as devas from the heavenly planets will appear on Earth and start to gradually transform all those jivas to become fully purified and qualified to go back home back to Godhead. There will be no way to escape for all the living entities on planet earth to drown in the nectar of the holy name. This happens by global mass harinam, distribution of prasadam and other devotional activities.