Indian MP Encourages & Supports IDVM’s Go Seva Initiative
HG Tribhanga Gopal Das: Sri Sharad Tripathi, Member of Parliament (MP) elected from Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, visited the ISKCON Temple in Balaramdesh on 20th June 2016 at about 7:30 PM during his Balaramdesh visit. He gave a speech in the Temple Hall. In his speech, he praised ISKCON’s devotional activities and services. He also glorified their Lordships, Vrindavan Dham and Mathura Dham (the speech is recorded and is available with HG Venkatesa Govinda Dasa).
While leaving the Temple Hall, I indicated HG Sridhar Madhava Prabhu to introduce the MP to His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja, Minister for ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM-India) and explain about his global Go Seva program through IDVM’s initiative of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign.
A brief but fruitful meeting took place between His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja and the Indian MP in Maharaja’s quarters. During the meeting, Maharaja highlighted the importance of Go Seva, the IDVM’s ongoing OM Sri Surabhi Campaign, the interdependence of cow protection movement and village life and so on. His Holiness also gave prasadam to the Honorable MP. The Honorable MP said that he would help establish an ISKCON center in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
While handing over the IDVM-India pamphlets to Mr. Tripathi I told him how Maharaja in his 5-days spiritual discourse had highlighted the grave situation of migration to cities. His Holiness had shown how thousands of families were leaving villages and going to town and cities. Therefore, India’s traditional or the village culture was disappearing. To stop and reverse this trend the IDVM Ministry, under the inspiration of His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami, has undertaken the Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra, which involves travelling to different villages and preaching the villagers to remain in the villages leading a simple life in Krishna Consciousness with Mother cow and Mother Earth.
The Honorable MP was jubilant to hear this and praised Maharaja’s noble work and carefully kept the pamphlet with him.
I also requested him that His Holiness’ mission be shared with the Central Government and other higher officials particularly with Srimati Menaka Gandhi and the Esteemed Prime Minister of India Honorable Narendra Modi. The MP responded positively and said that the Central Government could do many things in this regard and then left the temple.