Braja Bihari das - Character in Question
BY: JAGADEESH DAS
Apr 23, USA (SUN) — After reading the letter from Gurukuli das that was recently published in the Sampradaya Sun, I began to wonder not about Gauri das, but about Braja Bihari das. Here are some quotes from Braja Bihari das' emails that started me thinking about this person's character and integrity. Also that of the individuals that he was writing to.
"Please understand clearly the 2 concern (needs) of the school: 1. CP [corporal punishment] reinstated. and 2. Gauri is allow to administer CP. Gauri will use CP only in the presence of the ashram teacher, and will not use it on the older boys (his ashram) at all. This is what we want. It's reasonable."
"He will not use CP within his ashram. He will only use it when other ashram teachers bring their children for chastisement and only in the ashram teacher's presence and only after the proper escalation of consequences as outlined in the school charter is followed. Gauri Prabhu said to me he feels he should no longer use CP with the older boys (his ashram). I consider this offer extremely reasonable. I want to offer this as a final solution to recommendation #2 (no CP till Mayapur). I think the GBC men should see this as a very reasonable proposal, and a very healthy (especially from their point of view) outcome of their
investigation."
"I consider this very reasonable. What do you think? How do you think the GBC Ex.Co. will take it. If we can get this OK'ed, than the whole Investigation, as far as the school is concerned, is over, and we can proceed to other topics ( i.e. Com conference, a mission statement, etc). They are hesitant to proceed with these things until the investigation is complete."
It makes you wonder, who is this person Braja Bihari das? I did some checking and I see that from the time [of the above writing] to the present he has rapidly and steadily built an incredible career in ISKCON. It is a well established fact that a person's character is very difficult, if not impossible to change in one's lifetime. Behaviour can change, but
character is another thing.
I found another letter from a Bhima Karna das (Gurukuli Alumni). Here there are more recent questions about this person's character.
I have also spoken to devotees who have personally known Braja Bihari das over many years and they sum him up as: 'very ambitious', 'two faced', and a past master at 'cover up's'. One has to wonder how such a person can hold such leadership and high level advisory positions?
From my research I have found that he occupies positions of leadership in Adult and Child Education, GBC Facilitation/Child Protection/Director, ISKCON Resolve/ISKCON Ombudsman, as well as Trustee member of several educational institutions (e.g., Vrndavana Gurukula/Bhaktivedanta College etc. The list goes on and on. Now that in itself is amazing. How can one person fill so many sensitive and highly responsible positions, practically speaking?
What is also interesting is that when one looks at this from another angle, one sees that the majority of the positions that he occupies are all to do with accountability. Child Protection/Ombudsman/ISKCON Resolve/GBC Facilitation/Education etc. If this Braja Bihari das is in fact a person of questionable character and ethics, then what is wrong with other leaders within our movement who allow such a person to get his way?
Just as a person of questionable character such as Gauri das had a person of questionable character supporting and protecting him, such as Braja Bihari das, then so must this Braja Bihari das have similar people supporting his career within ISKCON.
An interesting point is when I researched the letter from Bhima Karna das (as noted above), I noted that Hari-sauri das was the senior investigator -- the same Hari-sauri das who works under Braja Bihari das as a mediator. (See ISKCON Resolve Mediators.
When I dug deeper, I saw that most of the colleagues of this Braja Bihari das are ex- or present principals and senior people in the old regime that was responsible for the Gurukula abuse fiasco. This seemingly nepotistic group of people seem to have gained total monopoly over their new 'corporate' ISKCON.
I am sure that Braja Bihari das has his good qualities and that he is hard working, but from my research into the facts that are available, I have found sufficient reason to doubt this man's intentions and motivation. I also know that there are more of his emails yet to be published.
Many devotees that I have met over the years have great concerns that the new developments within ISKCON are more to do with the corporatization/privatization of the movement rather than what Srila Prabhupada wanted. It seems like this Braja Bihari das is one of the main thrusts and visionaries of this 'Nuveau' ISKCON.
The question must be asked - is ISKCON a religious organization or a corporate institution to be run like the private business of career-minded people? What next? Salaries and Pension plans for corporate members? Oops, Isn't that what this Gauri das has?
