I write to inform all of you that one of the ISKCON Movement's best friends and scholarly supporters has just passed away in the morning of Saturday, February 20, 2021. I have known Tom Hopkins for decades and he has been such a supporter of devotees and well-wisher of the Movement. He met Śrīla Prabhupāda and the early devotees in 1966 at 26 Second Avenue, and purchased his first set of Śrīla Prabhupāda's "Delhi" Bhāgavatams at that time (those volumes are currently in my possession). At one point, Tom even arranged for Śrīla Prabhupāda to teach a course at Franklin and Marshall Coll...

Vishal Prabhu was a legendary distributor of Srila Prabhupada’s books. He joined the movement in approximately 1968, and he was about thirty years old when he joined. He married Visalini devi and they had three daughters together, one of whom passed away in Vrindavan at a very young age. His two remaining girls are Krsnamayi and Vrinda.

Karnamrita, a man who is missed A man who believed morals should persist For him family was at the top of the list A principal which in early days we'd resist

He went out on Sankirtan book distribution, selling, giving away, Srila Prabhupada’s books for many years. In each book he sold he had a very personal encouraging letter printed out offering to correspond and answer any question, he would sign each letter and he had a substantial list of people he regularly diligently kept in correspondence with from each of these interactions. His personal touch inspired the people he met to share their life stories with him.

Our dear Godbrother Vishal Prabhu passed away in Sri Vrindavan Dham sometime around February 8, 2021. He was 82 years old, almost 83. Vishal Prabhu was a legendary distributor of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Above is a photo of how I remember Vishal the most: wearing not one, but two book bags, criss-crossed in front of his chest, and going out to distribute every single day for the last fifty three years, whether he was in the US or in India.

Whenever Prabhupada would circumambulate the temple in the morning in Vrindavan, Vishal would be standing with his hands folded chanting prayers from the Bhagavatam and then give the English translations. On this particular morning there was water on the temple steps because it had just rained. Prabhupada just snapped at Vishal and said, "Do something practical," He said, "Clean this up." (laughs) So that was his response to the glorification. He ordered him to do some cleaning.

Our Godbrother Hansavatara Prabhu, initiated disciple of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, passed away on January 15 in Riviera Beach, Florida from throat cancer. His dear wife Yogamaya devi has asked me to compile this article. Here in Alachua, where they lived for the past year, Yogamaya devi arranged a beautiful fire yajna and loving ceremony last week at Tejo Prakash Prabhu and Laksmana devi’s property in his honor.