Radha Vinode Das: Impressions of a long time visitor <\/p>\n
I just concluded a three-week pilgrimage to Mayapur and have strong impressions to share: some inspiring, others disturbing.<\/p>\n
In a country known for inefficiency I was amazed at how quickly the magnificent TOVP is coming up. It seems that the predicted opening in 2016 is a distinct possibility heralding in a new phase in the spread of love of God.<\/p>\n
I was moved by the depth of devotion shared during the kirtan mela where a delightful menu of great kirtan masters guided the eager and faithful Vaishnavas into the ambrosial flavors of Krsna\u2019s names. The ISKCON Bhakti creeper is alive and maturing. All praises to the organizers of these events! <\/p>\n
Unfortunately, not all is bright. There is trouble in paradise.<\/p>\n
I was dismayed, or more accurately, disgusted, by the greed-saturated mood which seems dominant in the real estate market in Mayapur. During my brief visit I saw many posters slickly advertising apartments for sale. These posters gave lofty promises of getting your blessed corner in the Divine land of Gauranga, complete with reliable construction, high quality fixtures, Ganga breezes, and vastu layout in a family friendly environment. It sounded great! Which devotee wouldn\u2019t want such a place in Mayapur?<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t have to seek out the apartment sellers. They came to me. As a visiting westerner I was an obvious client, or in this case, potential victim, for their product. Three separate devotee salesmen approached me pitching me to purchase a flat in Mayapur. No problem there. I\u2019m in the market, and would love to have a quiet, simple place for pilgrimages and my retirement.<\/p>\n
But what was advertised on the posters and what I was shown had no resemblance. Truth be told, I was shocked to see what has sprung up in the rapidly developing area North of the ISKCON property. During my visit I heard it described variously as \u201curban sprawl\u201d, \u201cconcrete jungle\u201d, \u201cslum\u201d, \u201cNew Calcutta\u201d, and the \u201cSouth Bronx of Mayapur.\u201d Depressingly, none of these descriptions was far off. As a long time visitor to Mayapur my heart sunk and I felt a distinct pang of anger that this verdant, spiritual land which was prophesied to be a divine city and example to the world had been overrun by profit mongers looking to turn a quick buck off our spiritual homeland. <\/p>\n
Instead of a divine city full of inspiring habitats there was:<\/p>\n
– A chokingly tight cluster and congestion of unharmonious buildings<\/p>\n
– Obvious and widespread use of cheap building materials<\/p>\n
– Unsafe construction practices (There was one six story building which was leaning dramatically!) <\/p>\n
– Garbage piles spread throughout the area with no arrangement for disposal!<\/p>\n
– Wastewater spilling into unpaved, uneven roads;<\/p>\n
– A total absence of any trees or gardens!<\/p>\n
– A lack of natural light<\/p>\n
– No trace of any breeze <\/p>\n
– Devotee children playing in the dirt of construction sites meters away from garbage piles<\/p>\n
– A lack of security (There have been several reported cases of theft) <\/p>\n
I was flabbergasted. This place was an embarrassment; A shocking tribute to the guiles of Maya; An area unsuitable for Vaisnavas to reside, not to speak of showing an example to the world. <\/p>\n
And the blight is spreading!<\/p>\n
It was inconceivable to me that devotees who pride themselves on \u201chaving and living the truth\u201d could have contributed to such a wretched development. Even more painful that they did this in their most revered holy place. The construction in this area was certainly not directed by an attitude of service to Guru and Krsna. On the contrary, it seemed to be the lust conceived child of Kali\u2019s agents, lobha (greed) and ajnana (ignorance). <\/p>\n
It was obvious that the schemes of Kali had captured the minds of these devotee developers and driven them to ignore their natural devotion to Prabhupada, and his desire for a spiritual city. Thirst for ill-gotten profit had overcome them. They were using their private plots to stuff their pockets in complete disregard of the Dham\u2019s sanctity and the health, happiness and safety of their devotee clients. <\/p>\n
This story is still being written. <\/p>\n
During my visit a growing outcry from concerned devotees has inspired the GBC to pass new standards for responsible and balanced construction practices in the area. Unfortunately, the GBC resolutions are not legally binding on the private landholders and some devotee landowners have publicly scoffed at the directives of their seniors and Gurus. They have vowed to extract as much profit from their plot as possible in defiance of any GBC resolutions, devotee appeals, or higher principles! <\/p>\n
What can you and I do? <\/p>\n
One of the fundamentals of economics is that any industry survives and thrives only when it has customers! Without clients the industry either collapses or adapts to meet their needs. You and I have the power to encourage responsible construction practices and discourage reckless ones. We have the power to prevent Mayapur from getting paved over by a handful of misguided souls.<\/p>\n
Here are two things we can do:<\/p>\n
1) Don\u2019t buy an apartment from a landlord who is:<\/p>\n
– Unconcerned for the sacredness and beauty of the Dham.
\n– Indifferent to the plan of Srila Prabhupada for an exemplary Vedic city.
\n– Compromising the safety, happiness and health of the devotees. <\/p>\n
Here are some things you can look for when buying an apartment in Mayapur:<\/p>\n
a) Is there sufficient space left outside the building for a garden? The GBC resolution apparently calls for a minimum of 50% of any given plot to be left open. That means a building can cover 50% of any plot, and 50% should be left vacant for a garden, trees or open space. <\/p>\n
b) Is there and will there be sufficient space between this building and its\u2019 neighboring buildings to allow for air circulation and natural light?<\/p>\n
c) Is the apartment in a relatively quiet area?<\/p>\n
d) Are the residents and landlord in this building contributing to the maintenance (ie..Garbage disposal) of the neighborhood<\/p>\n
e) Is there a security guard?<\/p>\n
f) Has a qualified engineer certified the structure of the building?<\/p>\n
g) Is the land owner\/developer contributing or planning to contribute for the infrastructure of the neighborhood (roads, street lights etc\u2026)<\/p>\n
h) Is the septic arrangement sufficient for the size and number of residents of the building?<\/p>\n
i) Is the apartment above flood level? Is there sufficient electrical power to run home appliances?<\/p>\n
Who among us would want to support a landlord\/owner who has no concern for these things? <\/p>\n
A landlord who is indifferent to the desires of their Guru and the previous Acharyas? <\/p>\n
Who builds cheaply or even dangerously to increase their personal profit? <\/p>\n
Who paves over the holy Dham leaving no room for any trees? <\/p>\n
Who deceptively sells a low quality product to unsuspecting Vaisnavas?<\/p>\n
Who among us would want our friends to be duped into purchasing such a place? <\/p>\n
The Good News<\/p>\n
While many devotee\/developers have been seduced by quick and ill gained profit others have maintained their principles.<\/p>\n
There are compounds and apartments being built by both private developers and ISKCON which are offering reliable accommodation complete with a high standard of construction, proper maintenance arrangements, security guard, garden area for children and proper layout.<\/p>\n
If you are thinking of purchasing an apartment in Mayapur take your time, check your options and invest your hard earned money wisely. With a little bit of patience and some discrimination you can get your dream home in the land of the Golden Avatar. <\/p>\n
Support the responsible developers, boycott the blind profiteers, and encourage future developers to respect the Dham.<\/p>\n
2) Please share this message with your friends and other devotees. The more this is publicized, the greater encouragement there will be for devotee landholders to create a beautiful Mayapur. <\/p>\n
Mayapur is the sacred home of all Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Let\u2019s all do our little part to preserve its sanctity and turn it over to the next generation as a nice spiritual city as requested by Srila Prabhupada.<\/p>\n
Once again:<\/p>\n
1) Don\u2019t buy from irresponsible developers.
\n 2) Share this message with your friends<\/p>\n
Mayapur\u2019s future is at your fingertips.
\nLet\u2019s make sure that every developer in Mayapur knows this simple fact:<\/p>\n
If they build without respect for the Dham; Without regard for Srila Prabhupada\u2019s desire for a glorious spiritual city; Without concern for the safety and well being of the devotees;
\nTheir apartments will not be purchased!<\/p>\n
Help give Prabhupada and our descendants the spiritual city they deserve. In 40 years we don\u2019t want to see a shabbily constructed concrete jungle covering Mayapur and think \u201cwe could have, should have, would have\u201d.We can do something now. Keep Mayapur beautiful before it\u2019s too late. <\/p>\n
Spread the word. Sri Dham Mayapur\u2019s future depends on just a little effort.<\/p>\n
Your servant,
\nRadha Vinode Das<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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