Scandal at Saranagati, Temple President Jailed
BY: SUN EDITORS
Aug 15, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — [Revised] The Sampradaya Sun has recently been informed of a situation unfolding at Saranagati Village, a devotee community situated in Venables Valley, British Columbia, Canada. A long-time resident there, Kulashekar das (Andre Dufour) has been accused of sex-related offenses with children, and was recently arrested by local law enforcement officials.
Saranagati Village has long been a satellite community of the ISKCON Vancouver temple. Although Venables Valley is about four hours north of Vancouver, the devotees travel back and forth quite frequently, and the Saranagati residents have always participated in the annual Ratha Yatra and other temple festivals.
Kulashekar das was one of the first Canadians to be initiated by Srila Prabhupada, in 1968. At the time he joined Srila Prabhupada, Kulashekar was a resident of Montreal and a talented artist, and his work in that field continued over the years. His paintings are well known in Canada, and hang in a number of prominent collections.
Kulashekar das
When Kulashekar came to Western Canada from Montreal, along with him came allegations of troubling behavior. Approximately seven years ago there was another disturbing incident, this time in the Saranagati community, when Kulashekar allegedly trespassed on private property, creeping through a dense green boundary around a home's outdoor bathing facility and taking photographs of the naked mother and young daughter while they bathed.
When Kulashekar took the camera film in to be developed, the photo shop became concerned about the content of the pictures, and alerted the RCMP. The police apparently pursued the matter quite rigorously, but the parents declined to press charges. While most if not all residents of the Saranagati community knew about the incident, it remained an "open secret" among the local devotees.
Despite concerns about the voyeuristic photography incident, Kulashekar das remained an active member of the Saranagati community, in the dress of brahmacharya. In fact, over the years his home became the closest thing Saranagati had to a community temple. In a large room with open kitchen, Kulashekar installed the Deities and hosted a Sunday program for many years. Although a number of devotees have had difficulty dealing with his personality and somewhat volatile temper, the community found it convenient to continue holding weekly programs in his asrama.
In the Spring of 2006, Kulashekar, being over 70 years old, decided that he wanted to prepare for the eventuality of leaving his body. Rather than have family heirs take over his property and shares in the Saranagati community, which operates on something like a lease-hold basis, Kulashekar wanted to ensure that his property would remain in ISKCON. Consequently, he struck a deal with the co-GBC's of Western Canada, Gopala Krishna Swami, Bhakti Marg Swami, and Hari Vilasa dasa, arranging to sign over to ISKCON Western Canada his share in Saranagati and rights to his home and fixed assets on the property. In return, he got the GBC's agreement that he would be given the position of Temple President and would be allowed to remain living in his home until his death.
At the time this arrangement was being negotiated, there were a number of Saranagati residents who did not want the ISKCON GBC to be put in charge of the community temple. The GBC are infamous in Western Canada for their absence, and for not dealing with many serious problems that have arisen over the years. They venture even less often up into the British Columbia hinterlands where Saranagati resides, thus some were opposed to having them put in charge of a devotee project they'd shown very little interest in over long years. In fact, Hari Vilasa dasa has been known to make many disparaging remarks about Saranagati, even proclaiming that he "hates Canada".
We wrote in the Sun about the GBC's activities in Canada right around the time Kulashekar was signing over his property rights to ISKCON. This happened to coincide with the GBC's efforts elsewhere in North America to institute their new bylaws scheme. (See "Walk On Bye-laws")
Once the deal between Kulashekar das and ISKCON Western Canada was sealed, Saranagati not only had to deal with the problem of having an irascible personality in charge of the community's quasi-temple facilities, but that person was now officially the Temple President, working under the GBC's direct jurisdiction. He reportedly became even more belligerent, demanding worshipable respect from community members. Prior to this, the GBC had no authority at all over the Saranagati community, which was an entirely independent devotee project. The GBC's authority only manifested by way of a handful of true-blue GBC-ISKCON residents like Partha das and Uttama devi, and Yadubar das and Visaka devi. When Yamuna and Dina Tarini devis moved to Saranagati, although not officially connected to ISKCON themselves, they encouraged the community youth to worship Radhanath and get initiated by him, thus shifting the balance even further in the GBC-ISKCON direction.
As Kulashekar das prepared to sign his property over to ISKCON, some of the residents who were not in favour of the proposed arrangement began contacting the GBC members themselves. They asked that the temple property be incorporated separately as ISKCON Saranagati, under local board control, rather than it becoming part of the ISKCON Western Canada corporation under the GBC and Vancouver temple president's control.
Not surprisingly, this idea was rejected out of hand by the co-GBC's, who were very anxious to get their hands on the assets, and to officially plug themselves into the community in a position of authority. In the past, their efforts to appear authoritative at Saranagati had largely failed, because they didn't have an official role and instead had to ride on their own potency as spiritual personalities. Consequently, visits by Bhakti Marg Swami often met with a lukewarm reception and sparse attendance at his programs. Gopala Krishna had a few more dedicated disciples there, but only visited very infrequently. So the GBC were very enthusiastic about the prospects of having a venue at Saranagati proclaimed as "under GBC control", with little or no effort required on their part, but to accept Kulashekar's gift.
Nonetheless, devotees like Bala Krsna dasa, one of the original residents and a central figure in Saranagati's development over the years, exerted significant effort to keep the inevitable from happening. One of the issues that was called to the attention of the co-GBC's was Kulashekar's reputation, including the rumors of problems that he left behind in Montreal, and the voyeuristic photography episode which drew the attention of local law enforcement a number of years back in British Columbia. But even this did not dissuade the GBC from their proverbial cutting-of-the-deal.
With this brief history down for the record, we now arrive at the current events, and the reason for this article. On August 4, 2011, we received news that a fresh cluster of complaints about Kulashekar das had surfaced in the Saranagati community. Among them were allegations that Kulashekar had been inappropriately touching some of the female minor children, who apparently range in age from six years up to their early teens. Kulashekar is said to have been caught taking photographs of the children while they were using the toilet facilities, which are housed just off the main temple building and out of direct view from the main temple area. In addition, there were complaints that over a period of time, he has been focusing inordinately on the female children, taking many photographs of them (and only them) during temple programs.
A devotee mother of two small children wrote about the most recent situation with Kulashekar, stating the following allegations:
"During regular Temple Sunday gatherings, he often walks through the segregated women, interrupting & "inadvertently" touching them…[ ] In recent months, his touching has crossed boundaries much more than inadvertent or inappropriate.
Kulashekar has been witnessed touching two little girls under the age of 10 (the girls did not come forward; these actions were witnessed by adults). We do not know how many other unreported instances have occurred.
In one instance, he held a girl by the upper bust & back as he moved through the crowd of women. He held her with enough force to obstruct her movement. …[ ] In another instance, he was witnessed, "grabbing" a 6-year-old girl repeatedly, to the point of harassment."
We were advised that on August 3, 2011, Andre Dufour (Kulashekar das) was anonymously reported to the RCMP. Following the voyeuristic photography incident and the concerns communicated about his behaviour at the time, law enforcement officials responded very seriously, and began interviewing parents and local devotees.
Sometime during the weekend of August 5th-7th, Kulashekar is said to have traveled down to Vancouver to meet with Gopala Krishna Swami, who was then visiting the Vancouver temple. On Monday, when Kulashekar returned home to Saranagati, he was arrested by the RCMP and jailed. He was later released, as the investigation continues, pending formal charges. ISKCON's Canadian CPO representative, Praharana devi dasi, has been informed of the situation. Although she resides on the east coast, in Toronto, she has apparently opened a preliminary CPO investigation of the matter.
Of course, the parents, children and other residents of Saranagati community have been very distressed about the whole affair. Such incidents naturally increase the overall anxiety level about the safety of children, and particularly the need to keep them safe from sexual predators.
There is no doubt an added measure of anxiety for the parents of the minor child photographed nude by Kulashekar while bathing with her mother, over their decision not to press charges, call for a CPO investigation, or otherwise raise alarms that would have made the ISKCON society aware of the potential danger Kulashekar represents. Likewise, there are Saranagati community members who at the time of the voyeuristic photo incident, urged a sentimentally cautious approach that would not put Kulashekar under the spotlight or call the matter to the CPO's attention.
What is surprising, however, is that even after the most recent events, some of the senior devotees are continuing to take this position. In what essentially appears to be an enabler role, some are again counseling the parents not to press charges, not to call for a CPO investigation, etc. In other words, they are apparently advocating that the 'open secret' be perpetuated in order that Kulashekar not be taken to task over the matter. Of course, in the event that charges are brought and Kulashekar is found guilty, this advice will prove to be the equivalent of putting at risk all women and children who might come into contact with Kulashekar at any time in the future. While we are in no position to say if the most recent allegations are true, this certainly seems to be a dangerous position to take, given the overall circumstances.
The GBC now also find themselves in a challenging position. Given that Kulashekar's home and the ISKCON temple are now one and the same, and Kulashekar has, as we understand it, a contractual right to remain on the premises until his death, how will ISKCON ensure the safety of children who attend programs at their temple?
The author of one report we received on the recent allegations against Kulashekar wrote the following:
"It is common for the children of Venables Valley to gather at the "TEMPLE" for educational & extra-curricular activities, thus subjected to on-going interactions with him, sometimes with minimal adult supervision (one adult to how many children?). Though they all regard him superficially as a Brahmachari & community leader, it is common knowledge amongst the young people that he is a "dirty old man."
Since he has a documented history of inappropriate behavior around families, there are many members who feel unsafe, awkward, disinterested in participating, etc. But still no one has stripped him of his incongruous saffron attire or pressed charges that would initiate a legal investigation, that may reveal more of his solitary "creative" activities."
Before the real estate deal was consummated and Kulashekar was given the title of Temple President (a title that equates to official ISKCON bona fides), the history of allegations about Kulashekar being sexually deviant was called to the attention of the GBC and ISKCON Western Canada authorities. The fact that they put him in a position of power regardless of that fact, without conducting any investigation or involving the CPO, could make them vulnerable to legal liability themselves.
Whether or not the parents of the minor children involved in the most recent complaints against Kulashekar explore this legal avenue, or whether the children themselves do so in later years, when they come of adult age, is now an open question. One would assume that the manner in which the local GBC and ISKCON Western Canada authorities conduct themselves from this point forward will be of utmost importance.
Responsibility in this situation may also extend to the local Vancouver authority, Akrura das (Atul Kansal), millionaire co-owner of Hari Stones. ISKCON Western Canada is the name of the non-profit society that operates as ISKCON Vancouver, where Akrura das serves as Temple President. Prior to the time Kulashekar assigned his shares and fixed assets at Saranagati over to ISKCON Western Canada, the latter was itself already a shareholder in the Saranagati corporation. We assume, therefore, that Kulashekar's property was likely vended into ISKCON Western Canada, and may thus be under the management jurisdiction of Akrura das.
Likewise, it would seem that the Saranagati Village Land Holding Corporation (SVLHC) could be open to some liability. Questions are arising as to what actions they took, or should have taken to protect children in the community after the voyeuristic photography episode. Was the community relieved of the burden to act simply because the parents of the minor child in that incident didn't press charges? What discussions were held at the SVLHC board level, and what action taken or not taken, with respect to lodging an official complaint with the GBC when they became aware that Kulashekar's home was about to become an official ISKCON temple, under a Temple President who was involved in deviant behavior in recent past?
As we understand the timeline of events, after Kulashekar met with Gopala Krishna Swami in Vancouver over the August 5th weekend, Gopala Krishna took no direct action, except to have Kulashekar voluntarily step down as Temple President. He also asked the involved parents at Saranagati and presumably other members of the community what they wanted to have happen from this point forward.
We will certainly be interested to know exactly who does what from this point forward, both at the local level, among the three co-GBC's and Vancouver temple authorities, and on the part of the CPO. Many concerned devotees are monitoring the situation, and one devotee reporting on local events has posed a number of good questions regarding child safety within Venables Valley:
"1) When children are at the "Temple"/Kulashekar's house, what is the child/adult ratio of supervision?
2) Are the adult supervisors trained & aware of "RED FLAG" behavior, how to respond, document or advocate for a child when a boundary has been crossed or violated?
3) Are there any boundaries set for privacy during facility use?
4) Which (if any) community members, residents or visitors are legally mandated to report abuse to law-enforcement & child protection agencies?
5) The "Teacher" at the private community school legally is only described as a Tutor. Is there school policy describing whether he will act as an advocate, witness, or mandated reporter regarding legal intervention by law-enforcement or child service agencies?
6) Does the international organization of ISKCON have policy to cover any of these issues? Brahmacharya? Non-profit regulations? Child safety & rights in their place of worship?
7) Are the parents educated & aware of "RED FLAG" behavior or how to protect their children's physical, emotional & spiritual boundaries?
8) Are children educated to know their boundaries? Report or speak to parents or legally mandated reporters about abuse or concerns?"
We also wonder, shat about the role of community members, some of whom have been living at Saranagati for over 30 years? Over all these years, knowing about the serious allegations associated with Kulashekar, how is it that the community leaders still see fit to use his, now ISKCON's, facility for spiritual programs and community events attended by children, often without their own parents present? If the allegations are true, and there has been adequate evidence of that known publicly all along, have both parents and community leaders knowingly put the children into harms way? And if such serious problems exist, why is it that the community members over all these years haven't collectively built another abode for the Deities, and a safe place for the devotees to worship Krsna?
When considering all these questions, one has to keep in mind ISKCON's history of problems with child sexual abuse, and the dereliction of duties demonstrated by the leaders responsible for protecting our children. And in the current ISKCON culture, where everyone looks the other way while prominent sannyasis like Indradyumna load their Facebook page with literally hundreds of pictures of scantily clad young girls and women –with him cuddling many girls, touching them quite intimately – with all that going on in ISKCON, how could a group of parents and community leaders not realize that the GBC are not taking responsibility for safekeeping their children? Why then, are they not taking their own direct and assertive protective steps?
Tucked away in the hills of British Columbia's interior, Saranagati has not been prominently visible in the global ISKCON community. Unfortunately, this issue will now draw attention from concerned devotees around the globe, who will be watching very carefully to see that right action is taken, and the same mistakes made over and over in ISKCON are not permitted to happen yet again, with our children paying the highest imaginable price.
