Visit to Akshaya Patra

BY: MAHASRNGA DASA

Approximately six months ago, being heavily under the modes of passion and ignorance, I unknowingly or subconsciously became envious of Madhu Pandit prabhu and under the banner of ‘false ego’, I sought to expose ‘the truth’ according to my understanding based on hearsay information.

I was given some mis-information in the form of facts, figures, and documents along with rumors and foolishly swallowed them hook, line and sinker; then leaping before looking intelligently, investigating thoroughly, or speaking with the accused.

Some of the things I wrote were actually liable for action by the court system, but because of our past relationship and Madhu Pandit’s soft heart, he called off the legal beagles before they would have made my life miserable.

A week ago, on April 16, 2009, while travelling through Bangalore, Madhu Pandit contacted me and asked if I would like to visit the Akshaya Patra account office and look into the accounts myself.

I went to the Bangalore Temple the following day and attended the morning program. I was greeted with respect and had a wonderful spiritual experience with the assembled devotees. At 12:30 pm we had a meeting and I presented Madhu Pandit with my information, documents and half-truths that I had been told, and was actually shocked with his responses. He showed me court documents, explaining what really happened while gently rebuking me in a way so that I wouldn’t make such a fool of myself in the future. In the end I was embarrassed that I had not personally contacted him before shooting off my mouth.

After lunch I was brought to the accounting department of Akshaya Patra and introduced to the head accountant. He was instructed to answer all my questions and to show me whatever account books I requested. Previously I was told that Madhu Pandit was making millions of dollars from Akshaya Patra and that he was funneling the access into land deals all over the world. I couldn’t have been more mislead or hoodwinked. The Akshaya Patra project is operated by 8 Trustees who are from the top rung of society. Three are from INFOSYS, one is the CEO of Narvana Technologies, one is a successful industrialist, and three are from ISKCON Bangalore, which means the devotees don’t even have a majority vote.

Their accounts are audited by a group of chartered accountants in India called BSR & Co., who are a subsidiary of the Global firm KMPG, who audit NASDAQ. There are 17 prasada distribution centers in India which each has a chartered accountant, who in turn sends their accounts to the Bangalore office to be doubled checked and verified by another 10 accountants. Then there is a 3 man audit committee set up by the Board of Trustees to triple check the accounts for discrepancies, errors, or to find ways to increase distribution efficiency. And above all, there is the control of the government auditors, who are equivalent to the IRS in America, who periodically make unscheduled and surprise audits of their own.

When I asked the chief accountant what direct role Madhu Pandit played in handling the finance and accounts in the whole scheme of Akshaya Patra, he simply stated that he was the least person in the picture. There is even an advisory board chaired by the ex-Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India along with the Secretary of Education, a commissioner of Education and two prominent industrialists who give advice based on the vision of the Trustee/Board of Directors of Akshaya Patra.

I had also heard the complaint that the menu and quality of prasadam being distributed was of inferior quality. However after further investigation, I found out that there is a BED (Block Education Officer) who immediately checks into all complaints for the government, to insure quality control. The bottom line is that the Akshaya Patra project is not the money making machine I so wrongfully accused it of being. In fact, the accounts showed a 1.73 cr. deficit for the year 08/09.

I feel in all honesty that I must apologize to the world, and personally to Madhu Pandit prabhu for not thoroughly investigating my sources of information, and for not contacting him personally as a godbrother before going public, and also to the organizers, workers and participants of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Please forgive me for my ignorant and foolish offenses.

Mahasrnga dasa

ISKCON Bangalore wins the Court Case!

In a breaking news, on April 17th 2009, in the Trial Court of Bangalore, the judge finally passed an order in the matter of ISKCON, Bangalore vs ISKCON Mumbai. He ruled in favor of ISKCON Bangalore Society giving it the ownership to the Hare Krishna Hill and famous temple atop it. He thereby once for all put to rest all allegations of wrong doing or corrupt family dealings among the leadership of ISKCON Bangalore.

This ruling again reiterated the fact that ISKCON Bangalore, under the leadership of Sriman Madhu Pandit Das, is on the path shown by Krishna separate from the corrupt ISKCON Mumbai Society and its GBC leadership. This result will further enhance and deepen the quality of service of all the residents of Hare Krishna Hill to Sri Sri Radha Krishnacandra for the benefit of all humanity without unnecessary influences.

This ruling is further proof that what Krishna promises in the Bhagavad Gita that ” My devotees will never perish”, is hundred percent true even though we may not know His workings most of the time.

Thanks goes to devotees worldwide who stood by the ISKCON Bangalore devotees and their decade long struggle to reinstate Srila Prabhupada in the center of ISKCON inspite of severe hardships.

A message to HH Radhanath Swami, HH Jayaptaka Swami, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami and HH Bhakti Caru Swami: Please take this result, which has come inspite of immense funds sacrificed by you all (to the tune of many millions of dollars) and repeated confident assurances by Doyaram Das as Lord Krishna’s indication that NO ONE CAN DISTURB THE SERVICES OF HIS SINCERE SERVANTS. Hence please desist from further prolonging the case in Bangalore or supporting the dirty cause of Varada Krishna das who is trashing devotees in a tabloid manner through some websites. Please call for an end to all hostilities being undertaken by means of your underlings in Bangalore and let us concentrate on preaching in our own areas and services given to us by Srila Prabhupada. Only pure devotional service rendered for the benefit of the conditioned souls will help us at the time of fast approaching death.  Let us preach by our own strenghts depending on Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and then LET THE RESULTS SPEAK.