COMMENT BY PADMAPANI PRABHU
"Hare Krishna Prabhus. Thank you for airing this matter publicly. I’ve been deluged with inquiries from concerned devotees around the world about this conflict and I’d like to get a better understanding of the details so that I can respond accurately. I was under the impression that devotees had reached an amicable agreement after the last court case that KBI (Krishna Books Inc.) could legally print Srila Prabhupada’s original books, so I was surprised and dismayed to learn that there is yet another court case on the horizon. Surely devotees can somehow or other work this out co-operatively between one another without resorting to expensive lawyers and creating even more bad publicity for Srila Prabhupada’s movement.
On a personal note, I’d like to mention that I served with Jitarati Prabhu back in the 70’s in both the Winnipeg and Montreal yatras. Due to Jitarati’s leadership and dedication to sankirtana, the Winnipeg temple was consistently number one in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books for years in the small temple category. Later Jitarati helped to spearhead large-scale collections for remodeling the old church in Montreal which is now the beautiful home of Sri Sri Radha Manohara. Although I haven’t seen Jitarati Prabhu for at least 40 years, I always remember him as a sincere and devoted disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
We all have our own slants in Krishna Consciousness, but Srila Prabhupada repeatedly told us that we should try and work together despite our differences. I know from personal experience in publishing a magazine for devotees back in the 80’s (The Vaisnava Journal) that we can get along no matter how far apart we might be on personal or philosophical issues. Devotees of all persuasions and from all camps — including the GBC — were communicating together on the same page, so I know it can be done. Where there’s a will there’s a way."
REALITY; Tamohara dasa said; I was a long time resident of Iskcon Winnipeg, whereas Padmapani our young Godbrother flew in from Vancouver and stayed a few months. Jitarati was not even initiated for most of Winnipeg temple existence, as he came along later and was a junior prospect as opposed to full time devotee. It was others who consistently did the book distribution, not Jitarati, though he held up his share later, before bugging off to Montreal after Sivarama came along and destroyed the temple. Padma is simply incorrect or schmoozing on this matter. Hare Krsna.
Who were our steady book distributors?; Dharmaprana, Balakrsna, Tamohara dasa, Carana dasa, Kamsahanta, Bhudeva, Vyapaka, these were the Nitai Gour TSKP. - later John (Jitarati), Padmapani, Bhakta Craig, and a host of associates. Jitarati was never a sankirtana leader.
He also never "spearheaded" any laxmi collection program for Montreal temple, as Padmapani suggests for some reasons, rather Vyapaka the sankirtana leader and Nandikesvara the TP did, assisted by many candle makers and sellers, as well as life members and sankirtana incomes. Jitarati did his share, was not a leader of anything per se, being a relatively new boy, but was temple custodian, ie in charge of cleaning the temple etc.
Krishna Avatara Dasa; Jitarati Print and protect Prabhupada's original books, and that is very importent, !
Tamo Har Dasa III Krishna Avatara Dasa; Sure, while denying the clear fact that Srila Prabhupada was poisoned to death, and cooperating with the murderers. Jitarati was with the never fall from Vaikuntha crowd and not very intelligent. Padmapani's tales to schmooze to protect Jitarati makes me most uncomfortable, as what he says is blatantly indirectly abusive of the Winnipeg sankirtana devotees. Modern devotees keep rewriting history to suit themselves. The Canadian devotees in these years in general have largely proven cowards and collaborators with the CIA-led duped jew poisoners; very few awake Canadian devotees. Padmapani is awake, let us give him full credit.
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