By 50th Anniversary Global Office
While presenting the plans and strategy for the 50th Anniversary to the GBC on 15th February in Mayapur, Pancharatna Das a senior disciple of Prabhupada announced that Romapada Das had been appointed the new International Coordinator for the 50th Anniversary celebrations. The 50th anniversary celebrations will see a series of global and local events across six continents and 75 countries.
“I first got to know Romapada Das during the ISKCON 25th Anniversary celebrations in Mumbai, and I’m really happy to be able to work together once again with him,” explained Pancharatna Das, a member of the Executive Committee for the 50th Anniversary. “This is an important role that will need structured coordination of global projects, local events and strategic communication. It will require critical support to different stakeholders of ISKCON including our worldwide centres, the GBC, our congregation and well-wishers, the media, Government agencies, Hindu groups and inter-faith organisations.”
Romapada Das joined ISKCON in 1985 and has been involved in youth preaching, communications, media, government relations, social research, interfaith engagement and marketing. He served in various ISKCON temples including Juhu, ISKCON Soho Street and Bhaktivedanta Manor in London. In the UK, he was the Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, the largest umbrella body for British Hindus and advised the British Government in many roles. His Diwali parties in the House of Commons have been attended by the last three Prime Ministers of UK and several members of the Cabinet as well as scores of MPs.
He was appointed Commissioner of Integration and Cohesion by the British Secretary of State for Communities, and served as a member of the London Criminal Justice Board, the Race Hate Crime Forum, Executive Committee of the Interfaith Network UK and the Diamond Advisory Group of the Metropolitan Police London. He was invited by the British Parliament to present his views on religious discrimination law and anti-terrorism to Select Committees in the House of Commons and House of Lords.
In 2007 he was presented the ‘Asian Voice Political and Community Achievement’ Award at a ceremony in the House of Commons. He migrated from the UK to India in 2009, and left a role as the Global Sales and Marketing Director at Fujitsu, the world’s third largest IT service company to start the Vraj Services group.
“It is a great honour and privilege to serve Srila Prabhupada and the worldwide community of devotees for the 50th anniversary,” explained Romapada Das. “The Global Team will help organise a series of events to commemorate key milestones in the formation of ISKCON. We have already confirmed major events in Calcutta, Cochin, Boston, Houston, Delhi, and Mumbai. ”
Other events that will have a global impact include an ISKCON 50 exhibition, an International Food Festival, a Vedic Sciences exhibition, an International Music Orchestra and an International Yoga Festival.
“We want to celebrate events, appreciate our ISKCON family, educate the world about ISKCON, accelerate our outreach, and motivate special achievements,” explained Pancharatna Das at the GBC meeting.
Members of the GBC appreciated the efforts of the Global Team in planning the celebrations and pledged their support.
“We have appointed regional and national coordinators all over the world to work with the Global Team,” concluded Pancharatna Das. “One main purpose of the celebrations is to ensure that temples engage local devotees and congregation members in organising and participating in their events. Hence, we encourage anybody who wants to volunteer their services to contact the Global Office at once.”
Those wishing to offer their services can send an email to the International Coordinator, ISKCON 50th Anniversary Celebrations at: info@iskcon50.org
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For more information, send an email to: info@iskcon50.org
Our website: www.iskcon50.org