By Basu Ghosh das
Correction (error in article): I’m 56 now, not 54… :-)
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/26/2011112720111127023958923483062f8/ Keeping-the-Sanskrit-Connection. html
or
http://tinyurl.com/d6j2qnn
Born to English-speaking parents, this American took to Sanskrit when he was still in his teens; Indian culture and language is what attracted him to India
Dhwani Pathak Dave
Posted On Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 02:37:35 AM
Basu Ghosh Das smiles for the camera along with son Vaman Avatar He is an American who has spent 38 of his 54 years of life in Gujarat. Basu Ghosh Das, president of the ISKCON temple in Vadodara, is currently in Ahmedabad to participate in the All India Sanskrit Elocution Competition. Dressed in a white dhoti and upavastra, he speaks chaste Sanskrit as he walks on the SGVP International School campus, taking a break to communicate in Hindi and Gujarati with those who perhaps don’t follow Sanskrit entirely.
Born as Bryan Davies in Chicago, it was Indian culture and language that drew him to India when he was 16. “I have been in India for so long now. This is the land I belong to since back then. I have been living in Vadodara and a few years into staying there, I learnt Sanskrit, Hindi and Gujarati,” he says.
At the Sanskrit Elocution competition, Ghosh is present to talk on Indian culture. Expressing anguish at the Indian community that perhaps does not value Sanskrit, Ghosh says, “The youngsters here do not know the rich value Sanskrit can inculcate. It is indeed sad that despite such a rich Indian spiritual culture, people here are yet to understand and get to the depth of it.”
Ironically however, his son Vaman Avatar too goes to a ‘western’ school, not a gurukul. “He prefers wearing jeans compared to a dhoti. It is only today that he has worn this,” laughs Ghosh, as he turns towards speaking Sanskrit with other lovers of the language.
I offer my humble obeisances to my dearmost Godbrother Shriman Basu Ghosh das Adhikary. He is completely surrendered at the lotus feet of Shrila Prabhupada and from the very beginning has entirely devoted himself to the great cause of Krishna consciousness without any thought of himself. He sees ISKCON as his transcendental family as much as his own family and offers his support to each member equally and with a heart that is full of Vaishnava compassion. Through him Shri Krishna has built a grand temple in Gujarat which is the home of the world’s most pious souls. Nonetheless, by the grace of Shrila Prabhupada he continues to add piety to piety by giving even Lord Krishna’s devotees a clearer and more focused understanding of bhakti by the unbreakable strength of the great Shri Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. Basu Ghosh has become the recipient of the mercy of Mahaprabhu and thus the Soothing Moonbeams of the Golden Lord Gaurachandra are innundating Gujarat state. Basu Ghosh is an example of what we can accomplish if we remain always fixed, steadily and unflinching at the feet of Lord Chaitanya’s divinely empowered representative, the World Acharya Shrila Prabhupada. I bow low in the dust at the feet of my blessed Godbrother Shriman Basu Ghosh das Prabhu and beg his mercy that in some future existence I will learn the secret of serving Shri Guru and Gauranga as he has done without any selfish motivation whatsoever. Basu Ghosh das is the deliverer of fallen souls and he is also the deliverer of my fallen soul. There is no way that any member of the Hare Krishna Movement can ever repay Shriman Basu Ghosh das for his example of what it means to serve Shrila Prabhupada unhesitatingly. Thank you for this great example which I will try to take to heart if I can only but hear the sound of the holy name with proper concentration. No silent and quiet example speaks louder than that of this saintly Guru Bhai. Let others accuse me of being over the top. I stand by what I have written. Basu Ghosh das ki jai ho.
-Patita Pavana das Adhikary