Discussion on GBC Response to Child Abuse (Video)

RATI MANJARI · MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020

Here’s an article that my husband wrote a few years ago (i think it was 2005) for Chakra (which is no longer running). He used the name “Swami X” [Radhanath?] because we’ve experienced too many times that when someone hears *what* happened, they’re completely appalled, but then when they find out *who* did it, they start making excuses. He wanted to be able to tell some of my story without having to deal with that. This is by no means the whole story, but a tip of the iceberg.

I’m going to add a couple updates, and another detail after his article.

By Dwijamani das

Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

My wife is a New Vrindavana gurukuli and disciple of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja. She was severely abused as a child and young adult. I won't go into details but I can assure you they are absolutely horrendous and bring shame to the institution of ISKCON. An institution, remember, that Srila Prabhupada and his sincere followers worked so hard to establish.

At seven years of age, she was brutally raped by her own stepfather. Although it was reported, ISKCON took no action against this man. He was, and still is, allowed to live in the New Vrindavana community and in fact on New Vrindavana property. Some years later, she began to realize that this was just plain wrong no matter how much philosophy you wrap around it. 

She turned to one of the senior and most respected leaders of the community, Swami X and revealed her decision to report this man to the police. After all, it's not just what he did to her, she has younger siblings and there is also the safety of all children of the community to consider. Reporting this criminal, knowing that he would be tried, convicted and more than likely go to prison would seem to be the responsible thing to do. 

What was the response of Swami X? He turned to this teenage girl with a look of disgust and said "Why would you want to cause so much anxiety and more bad press for New Vrindavana?"

The girl was devastated and actually believed she had been a bad devotee for considering such an abominable action as….. reporting a known pedophile to the police! This is only one instance of abuse that occurred in the "loving" gaze of Swami X. She was taken out of school at thirteen to live in a van working parking lots to collect money for some bogus charity. 

By the way, this was under the direction of a Temple President who is now, thanks to Swami X, back in a position of power at New Vrindavana. At fifteen, she was forced into an illegal marriage and raped on a daily basis. "Swami X wants you to marry such and such and go look after a preaching center" she was told by another leader who is also still in a position of power at New Vrindavana. Swami X claims to have not personally made the arrangement, but he certainly knew of her situation and he "lovingly" did nothing to help her. She personally asked Swami X for help at that time and was ignored.

The years passed and the abuse continued. She is now a young woman with severe emotional problems and is in constant pain due to serious back problems. Did I forget to mention that when you force a thirteen year old girl with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) to spend hours and hours carrying heavy bags of hats and stickers, it messes up her back for life!

Over three years ago, in one last desperate attempt to give him a chance to do the right thing, she spoke with Swami X via telephone. I personally witnessed this exchange. In that conversation he flatly denied any responsibility because he could not recall the specific incidences. He would not admit any wrongdoing on his part as though he had not been involved. However, he promised he would do everything in his power to help her, stating that "I give you my word that I will do whatever I can to help you. 

And when I give my word, I give my life." The conversation ended and sadly, though not surprisingly, he's done NOTHING!

These events are true, the girl is real.

Can you begin to imagine how she feels every time Swami X is glorified and given top billing as "guest of honor?"

I have no interest in spoiling the reputation of any sincere sannyasi and guru. However, Swami X gave protection to an incestuous pedophile and an unlawful marriage resulting in non-consensual sex with a minor, but gave no shelter to her. To this day, he refuses to admit any responsibility in the suffering of this gurukuli. I see the result of his neglect every single day and it is painful.

Kulimela is just around the corner and Swami X is a guest speaker. When fellow gurukulis offer respect to Swami X, I hope they will remember the experience of my wife and also be aware that there are also other cases of gurukuli abuse from him that I have not yet spoken of.

The disrespect that Swami X has shown to these children is in fact a great offence.

Bg 11.49 Purport

"In the beginning of Bhagavad-gita Arjuna was worried about killing Bhisma and Drona, his worshipful grandfather and master. But Krsna said that he need not be afraid of killing his grandfather. When the sons of Dhrtarastra tried to disrobe Draupadi in the assembly of the Kurus, Bhisma and Drona were silent, and for such negligence of duty they should be killed. Krsna showed His universal form to Arjuna just to show him that these people were already killed for their unlawful action."

Letter to: Arundhati
--
Amsterdam
30 July, 1972

Miami

My dear Arundhati,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 19, 1972, and I am simply surprised that you want to give up your child to some other persons, even they are also devotees. For you, child-worship is more important than deity-worship. If you cannot spend time with him, then stop the duties of pujari. At least you must take good care of your son until he is four years old, and if after that time you are unable any more to take care of him then I shall take care. 

These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear.

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami


UPDATES- A few years after my husband wrote this, the man who raped me when i was 7 was banned from New Vrindaban property. He is also now banned from the Temple in Alachua. Unfortunately, this information is not made public, so most people and parents in the community don't know, and therefor are not able to keep their children safe from him outside of the temple.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS- Swami X absolutely knew what was going on, in fact he performed the “marriage ceremony” and invited people from the preaching center to attend.

I never realized, until my husband pointed out to me, that it’s very possible that the reason Swami X did not want me to report the man who raped me when i was 7, is that it’s very likely that the police would have then looked into my life, wondered why i hadn’t been in school, and why Swami X had arranged for a minor (me, at 15) to be transported across State lines to be in an illegal arrangement that they called a marriage. Which to my knowledge is a Federal crime.