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Engineer (Letters)

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 29 December, 1967:

Regarding Hayagriva and Kirtanananda, if they come again we should accommodate them and should not continue the misunderstanding that has been engineered. I think Hayagriva is anxious in having his name printed in the publication of Gitopanisad. I do not have any objections that his name may be mentioned as one of the editors helping in the editing of Gitopanisad, just to encourage him and keep him in our camp, in case that he may come back and accept our philosophy and resume his editing talent. He has committed a blunder, but just so that he may be encouraged to come back you may mention his name also along with Rayarama's. He is not so convinced of his impersonalist philosophy. It is only due to Kirtanananda's influence that he has left us.

1968 Correspondence

Letter to Hansadutta -- Seattle, Wash. 98105 1 October, 1968:

If you are confident about this, then let me know immediately, so I shall renew negotiation with the party. You may see the house once more inside; the process to do so is as follows: "Permission to inspect may be obtained upon application to the Base Construction Engineering Officer, 6769 Notre Dame Street East, Montreal, Quebec (Telephone 255-8811-Local 280), between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on working days only." So you can arrange to see the building by phone and let me know your opinion as soon as possible. Regarding your press, and publication of Back To Godhead in French language: I have not heard anything. I have also not heard anything from Janardan since I have come. I shall be glad to hear from him also. Have you issued any mimeograph copies of Back to Godhead till now?

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 31 July, 1969:

I have received one letter from Syamasundara dated July 25th in which it is stated that the magnitude of the Ratha was double than the one you had in San Francisco. So such a heavy structure was not properly attended as to its weight and the wheels which could carry such huge weight. I think it was a mistake of engineering calculation. The load was heavier than the wheels could carry. So there is no question of being disappointed. I have not received any detailed information either from you or from the others, but even if the Festival was not properly performed, you should not be discouraged. As in the material world sometimes failure is considered as a pillar of success, similarly in the spiritual order also the same principle can be applied. So don't be disappointed. Maybe Krishna's desire is something higher in this connection.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Bapi -- Los Angeles 15 February, 1970:

I immediately agreed to this proposal, but later on your father changed his mind and he wanted to wait until your education would be finished. I am very glad to learn that in the month of May you will be finishing your Indian educational career and you propose to come in the States for your postgraduate education in engineering.

So I welcome you and when you come here you will be at liberty to stay in any one of my preaching centers. I have got now twenty-six different centers in Europe, U.S.A., Canada, Japan, and Australia beginning from Hamburg, Germany down to Tokyo, covering about 14,000 miles. Generally I stay in Los Angeles because the climate of this city is almost like our Bengal.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Brooklyn 28 July, 1971:

Regarding giving contract for building our temple I think it is not a good proposal. We are not so rich. The plans made by Jaju's engineer is alright. We can engage our own men to construct the temple without any contractor. Nara Narayana is experienced, and there are so many experienced men in our Society and I think some of them may go to Mayapur and we will construct ourselves. Besides, in India many of our godbrothers have constructed big big temples but they have never taken the help of any contractor or engineer. The native masonry workers are very experienced so we can simply supervise.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- London August 4, 1971:

So far Mayapur is concerned, I have not yet received the documents of the purchase of the land from Tamala. They had not yet arrived in N.Y. when I left there, on the 2nd August. So you can send a copy here immediately. Also you should send the temple plan made by Jaju's engineer, so that Naranarayana, presently in London, can be consulted.

Regarding the Book Trust, soon you will be receiving copies of the documents from Karandhara and upon your approval we will draft a final agreement and sign it.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Mombassa, Kenya 16 September, 1971:

We must have a nice center at Mayapur because we are expecting there students from all over the world. Plans of the temple have already been made and you should have received them by now. The buildings should be exactly in the same pattern. The size may be changed according to the engineering technology. I have shown in London the Westminster Abbey to Syamasundara, Bhavananda and Nara Narayana. Perhaps you have also seen it. I want the inside just like the Westminster Abbey. You will understand from the plans what is my desire in this connection.

Letter to Nara-narayana -- Nairobi 17 October, 1971:

I am going to Bombay on the 20th, starting from Nairobi on the 19th night reaching 8:15 the next morning. I shall start for Calcutta on the 24th instant and the expected time of arrival will be cabled from Bombay.* I am very glad that you are already working on the model. Finish it nicely and when I go to Calcutta on the 24th we shall take up the matter of engineering work, consulting with others.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Tamala Krsna, Jayapataka -- Sydney 2 April, 1972:

Now out of one lakh, 13,700, I paid you Rs. 10,000, and I kept out Rs. 3,700 which I deposited in the Building Account. Now for further transactions the suppliers of goods should be paid for by check from the Building Fund, so if you want bricks let them supply and send us bill which should be checked by you both and also by one of our consulting engineers or experts, and then a check will be issued from me. So far I know Karandhara had only $13,600 in the Mayapur Fund, $10,000 of which was transferred back to my account, so for the time being you cannot expect more money from there.

Letter to Giriraja -- Tokyo 23 April, 1972:

Have a boundary fence so that everyone cannot enter it. So far your hired Brahmin cook, since we have our prasadam distribution program this may be necessary, but he must be clean, no smoking, and he must wear kunti beads. As far as possible he must follow our principles.

The temple foundation should be done first. There are many engineers in Calcutta who can give us free service, and if some of them can be brought at our expense to see to the supervision, that will be nice. Everything must be done very cautiously. For clearing the debt of Mr. Nair, he has to be paid three lakhs per year. That means if you make one member daily, that will be 360,000 per year. So you should make one member for clearing his debt, and one member for construction. This should be the calculation.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Honolulu 17 May, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 5, 1972, and I have noted the contents. Yes, we shall personally supervise everything there at Mayapur, instead of giving everything to contractor. The engineer may simply see that things are being done properly and we shall see that the labor is working properly. Purchase first-class building materials, then there will be first-class building. So far your recommendation for getting money, this arrangement is approved. Accounts and money should be in one place. You have already got Rs. 1,10,000 from me, so if you submit account of this expenditure, you will receive more. All collections and Life Membership money should go to Bombay for deposit in the Building Fund. It is understood that Giriraja has asked Bhavananda for the Life Membership collections, but Bhavananda has not replied.

Letter to Cyavana -- Los Angeles 23 May, 1972:

If you can get materials donated as you have with the temporary temple structure, that is the best plan. So during rainy season, you may also work at acquiring materials such as sand, bricks, stone chips, etc. If there will be one retired engineer who will help you in this matter just as they have done in Calcutta, that is also a nice proposal. You can put one advertisement in a newspaper and many men will come for interview.

Letter to Cyavana -- Los Angeles 23 May, 1972:

Otherwise we have no construction experience and they may try to cheat us. We shall of course continue to also look after all aspects of the building operation, but we should have the help and assistance of a qualified retired engineer. Try to find out such a person. You may consult with Bhavananda and Tamala Krishna in this respect, as the building work in Mayapur is already well under way and it is going very nicely.

I have enclosed herewith some photos from the deity installation of Panca-tattva in Honolulu. I remember that you have good ability to do propaganda work, so I am entrusting that you will try for printing these photos in the big newspapers in Bombay. You can write that they are taken at the deity installation in our Honolulu ISKCON center on May 7, 1972.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Paris 22 July, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 10, 1972, and I have noted the contents with great pleasure. I am very glad to hear that the building work is going on with full speed, including both day and night shifts of workers. Do not worry, I am sending you two first-class men from England, both of them have got good experience in engineering and building work. They are named Smarahari das and ___. They shall be arriving very soon in India, and you can train them to help you there full-time. Besides, you may ask Giriraja if Saurabha das can come from Bombay from time to time to assist you there and see how the things are going on. He is experienced man.

Letter to Bhavananda -- London 1 August, 1972:

Another thing is, I have received one letter from Tamala Krsna Goswami that his visa for Bangladesh is now postponed, therefore I would request him to take one qualified engineer friend from Calcutta, there are so many engineers we have interviewed who will work for us without charge, so he shall bring one engineer to Vrindaban to assist Gurudasa in construction of the house there. At least he can remain in Vrindaban for a few weeks to get the thing off on a solid basis.

Letter to Bhavananda -- London 1 August, 1972:

They have been there many months now and only one fence is there, one small hut, and one tube well. Otherwise, simply politics. But I am very much certain that Tamala Krsna has got the right idea for doing things, so he can go there immediately and begin the real construction work with the assistance of one qualified engineer who will live with us on the same basis as we are doing things at Mayapur.

We have seen your note regarding Sarasvati Maharaja, and you may engage one Sanskrit teacher for Sarasvati so she shall become a very great scholar, just like Jiva Goswami was trained in Sanskrit language from early childhood and no one could surpass him in all of India.

Letter to Gurudasa -- London 1 August, 1972:

Now in Vrindaban the financial situation is being conducted nicely by Gargamuni Maharaja, but the work is not going on. In so many months, there is only one fence one small hut, and a well. So I think it will be to the advantage, on the whole, to invite our Tamala Krsna Goswami to come to Vrindaban and bring one of his qualified engineer friends from Calcutta to do the work in Vrindaban. He has got good experience, and he can organize everything and begin the work immediately. His visa was denied for Bangladesh, and he has trained up Yasodanandana Maharaja to lead this sankirtana party, so practically he is free to come to Vrindaban for some weeks to begin the work there. What do you think?

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- London 1 August, 1972:

So many months they have been there but there is nothing tangible begun. Practically you are the best man for giving them a good start. Now the Bangladesh business is postponed, and you have trained Yasodanandana Maharaja in leading the sankirtana party, so you will be free for a few weeks to help me in this way by taking one qualified engineer from Calcutta who has agreed to work with us and live with us without consideration of remuneration and go to Vrindaban and do some solid work. Kindly do the needful immediately and let me know. Gargamuni has collected funds for Vrindaban project very nicely, so if cooperatively you and Gargamuni Maharaja work together you can do something concrete, and this will please me very much.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- London 1 August, 1972:

Gargamuni has collected funds for Vrindaban project very nicely, so if cooperatively you and Gargamuni Maharaja work together you can do something concrete, and this will please me very much. He will supply you with funds and you supervise the building work. In the same way that you have begun everything at Mayapur, just bring along one engineer and see that he is doing everything properly. That will relieve me of so much anxiety, as I want to display something very wonderful in Vrindaban, but as yet there is nothing to show.

Letter to Acyutananda -- London 5 August, 1972:

One thing is, there has not been very much substantial concrete work done in the last few months in Vrindaban in the matter of our new building there. So I have asked Tamala Krishna Goswami to come there with one engineer and begin the work vigorously. Now you give him all assistance and help me get started on this great project immediately. I shall be coming to India sometimes in October and I expect to see some tangible progress there in Vrindaban. That is our real business. If we are there so many months and we cannot do anything, simply eat and sleep and fight amongst ourselves, then where is our credit? Our credit will be when the people see our nice building rising daily, just like in Mayapur, with 100 men working day and night.

Letter to Tamala Krsna, Bhavananda, Jayapataka -- London 9 August, 1972:

You should canvass the big manufacturers in Calcutta for giving supplies of steel and other things, now we have got some solid framework to show them. It is not that we are so rich in America we can go on forever supplying you so much money and you spend exorbitantly and become cheated. I do not think that building is worth $100,000. The engineers may be trying to cheat you. You told the total cost will be four lakhs, now it is eight lakhs, why this doubling and uncertainty?

Letter to Tamala Krsna, Bhavananda, Jayapataka -- London 9 August, 1972:

Some other points, you mention "bullock for transporting supply," and it has cost you Rs. 1800/-. I think that is exorbitant price for one bullock. And for that you have purchased two bullock-carts, why? And why you are paying salaries so much to engineers, there was understanding the engineers will work for nothing, only little pocket money, but not for salary. Who is keeping the accounts? All bills must be kept. One bicycle was purchased for Rs. 300/-, but these things anyone will give you, why you are spending money unnecessarily? Why so much legal fees are being paid for purchasing land? It is a simple matter, I pay you some money for your land, the solicitor makes deed of sale, finished.

Letter to Tamala Krsna, Bhavananda, Jayapataka -- London 9 August, 1972:

I have informed Tamala Krishna to take one engineer to Vrindaban for starting the work there, whether he has done it? I shall expect his letter in this connection.

Letter to Tejiyas, Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 16 August, 1972:

I have sent you the plans approved by me, and you may submit them to the municipality and request them to very quickly approve so we may start as soon as possible. When they have approved, Saurabha may come there to give you some help in the beginning, and I think by now Tamala Krishna may be there with one engineer for getting the work started. There must be some tangible progress made by the time of my arrival so that I may see the work being done.

Letter to Gurudasa -- New Vrindaban 1 September, 1972:

So Bhavananda is coming there in a few days, and Tamala Krishna is coming with one engineer, so conjointly you three men consider everything with these points in mind and do the needful. If you all three big men think that it is a good bargain, then you may offer as you think best, but consulting with me first. But one thing is, what we shall do with the land in Raman Reti? How to utilize it if we purchase the Kesighat temple? I am remaining in New Vrindaban at least until 8th September, after that you may write me in Los Angeles.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 15 September, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge your letter from Vrndavana dated September 3, 1972, with the letter from Mr. Suri's firm in New Delhi, and I have noted the contents carefully. The first thing is to develop our own place. There we must immediately build a temple. I wanted a temple like Govindaji's, is it so difficult that for the last six months you have consulted so many engineers? Any ordinary engineer can draw up the plans and get it passed. There has been so much unnecessary correspondence. We have sent two sets of plans, how is it that all the plans are being lost and you have not received them? So we cannot divert our attention further, but if they donate then we can spend very elaborately to renovate those temple. As for purchasing Kesighat Temple, we can see later on, we have to see to our own plot first. One thing is, are there any tenants in these temples? If so there is no question of purchase as there will be long process of litigation to remove them.

Letter to Tamala Krsna, Subala, Gurudasa, Bhavananda -- Los Angeles 22 September, 1972:

I am pleased to understand that something will be concretely done in Vrndavana at last, that is my dream, to build a simple temple just like Govindaji's that is not so difficult. Now these men are joining us and cooperating to do the construction and engineering work, so I think my dreams will be finally realized at last.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 14 May, 1973:

I am advised by my Calcutta physician that I should go back to India. So I am returning and will reach in Calcutta sometime next week. Ananda Pandu wanted to stay with me, so if he likes he can come to Mayapur where I shall stay. Offer him my dandabats.

So far as Mr. Sarkar, our engineer, is concerned, if he becomes too much of a disturbance then you may dismiss him.

Letter to Sir Alistair Hardy -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 28 July, 1973:

When we speak of power, it means there must be a source of the powerful, for example we may speak of the electric power, so immediately it suggests that there must be a source of power, the power house, and the power house is being conducted by some engineer. So ultimately there is a living force, a living entity. He is Generating the power by mechanical arrangement, and we can experience his power in so many ways. You have tried to explain in your book "The findings of such research might spark off a new phase in religious history, people might be induced to try the experiment of approaching this power in their own way, not by prayer or the alteration of physical events or for national safety or material aims, but for spiritual strength and guidance for a better way of life, or perhaps how best to deal with some difficulty." This is indeed very good.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 5 December, 1973:

Regarding our Bombay project: somehow or other the foundation should be dug immediately. Yasomatinandana Prabhu, who has a degree in structural engineering, is here and I have requested him to go to India with Giriraja who is recovering. They will come as soon as possible.

Regarding visas for our American devotees coming to India, I have made arrangements with the Consulate General of India in New York to grant six month student visas, renewable in India, for all our men. The premise is that we want our men to come to India to learn the Sanskrit language so that we can study the Vedic literature.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973:

I have already advised Guru das to remain in Vrindaban. There is no need for him to come to the U.S.A. at this time.

Regarding our Bombay project: I am sending Yasomatinandana das there. He is a qualified engineer and he may deal with Mr. Shah and others. That will relieve you from this work. He is very competent and intelligent. He will return with Giriraja. He is our man and if he requires, he can take help from Mr. Shah. We should keep them all as friends. This is a very important point. Let our men and Mr. Shah do the needful—we don't require to hire any outside engineers. Regarding Mrs. Thirani, try to please her. She is the grand-daughter of Mr. Birla and the sister of Ashok Birla. She is a very important lady.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 24 December, 1973:

I have previously written you that our man Yasomatinandana dasa shall take charge of the construction in Bombay. He is very nice and enthusiastic devotee and a qualified engineer so he shall be the manager of the engineering and construction. Thank you very much for carrying on our work in India so faithfully and responsibly and I pray to Krsna always for your protection and advancement.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 31 December, 1973:

I have recently received one letter from Sridhara das Brahmacari who has left Bombay and gone to Vrindaban. He reports he is disappointed having been removed from his job of managing construction in Bombay. Sridhara is a very good boy and a hard worker. While I was there it was fixed up that he should take the responsibility for construction work. Why was he removed? Now Yasomatinandana is coming to join you and he is a qualified engineer. Between he and Sridhara they can, I think, manage construction affairs without your having to put a karmi professional in charge.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Resolution -- Bombay 1 April, 1974:

That the Society will construct one additional floor on each of the six existing buildings on the Hare Krishna Land, (purchased in October, 1973.)

2. That the President, Secretary, and Treasurer are hereby authorized to appoint any architect, labor contractor, other contractors, engineers, to purchase, etc. for the purpose of construction.

3. That the construction may begin immediately upon approval given by the Bombay Municipal Corporation.

Letter to Acarya Prabhakar Mishra -- Bombay 1 May, 1974:

In all different fields of activity, social, political, religious, cultural, economic and so on. If you take up this principle then the educational department should be divided into four divisional departments for advancement of knowledge. There are many departmental institutions for giving education just like medical, engineering, legal, administrative etc. But there is no educational institution where real ideal Brahmanas are educated according to Srimad-Bhagavatam brahminical culture, or to educate a certain section as ideal, perfect persons is essential in human society.

Letter to Giriraja -- Mayapur 22 October, 1974:

Gargamuni Swami has returned with copies of letters from the BMC architect, the Bandra Asst. Engineer, and the letter regarding the land acquisition. Regarding the property evaluation, I have already written you how we have paid Rs. 200/- per sq. yard. From the developed portion we are receiving income per annum of Rs. 18,000/- including the tax deductions. The current rate of interest for an investment is 10%, so the value for this portion is Rs. 1,80,000/-. For the entire land we have paid Rs. 14,50,00/-; so the value for the undeveloped portion is Rs. 12,70,000/- (for 6,000 sq. yards) or Rs. 200/- per sq. yard. If they are calculating the value at Rs. 130/- per sq. yard, then we have paid more than the market value, not less.

Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974:

There will be the main temple that will extend upwards the full 30 stories, as well as different levels depicted in doll tableaus, first the material world, devi dhama; then mahesa dhama, then vaikuntha dhama, and finally goloka vrindaban. Already a competent engineering firm in Calcutta, which is the only firm in India to use an IBM computer in its calculations, has been contacted for making the foundation. "It will not be difficult", assured Srila Prabhupada. He further revealed, "I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come...Krishna will supply the money. Don't bother. The money will come either locally or from USA."

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Dipak Kanti Chowdhury -- Mayapur 3 February, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 22 December, 1975, and have noted the contents. I am very glad to learn that you have got your M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering, so do finish your Ph D course. Krsna will bless you with a good situation for the service of the Lord.

I am glad to learn that you are daily coming to our New York temple to worship the Deity. Most probably I shall be coming to New York next April where we shall meet and talk more about spiritual progress of life.

Letter to Manager of Bank of America -- Honolulu 20 May, 1976:

Please prepare an account payee only bank draft to the credit of Engineering Construction Corporation Limited, for a sum of Rs. 2,48,848/95 (Rupees two lakhs, forty eight thousand, eight hundred and forty eight and ninety five paisa), and debit our account no. 16026,

Please send this account payee only bank draft to the following address: by registered post.

Letter to Saurabha -- Honolulu 20 May, 1976:

However, the marriages can not take place before the Deity in the temple. Where in the tower would you plan to have the marriages take place? What rooms would be utilized for this purpose?

I am enclosing a copy of the letter to the Bank of America requesting them to issue payment to the ECC (Engineering Construction Corporation). See that this copy is given to Giriraja das, and he can see that this transaction takes place according to instructions contained therein.

Page Title:Engineer (Letters)
Compiler:Visnu Murti, RupaManjari
Created:20 of Dec, 2011
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=40
No. of Quotes:40