Book distribution to Ijtema teacher

By Harikatha Das

It was a Sunday evening and I alongwith another devotee Smita Krishna Das decided to distribute Sri Prabhupada’s books in the new bus stand of Dharwad, Karnataka. So, we packed ourselves with Big as well as small books of Srila Prabhupada. We had apprehensions and shyness as we have not much experience in it. In fact, for Smita Krishna prabhu, it was the first day he went out for book distribution by getting motivated by the daily thoughts from the www.ultimateselfrealization.com website broadcasted by H.G. Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari. So, we kept our heavy bags full of books on a cemented bench in a dark corner of the bus stand and looked at the crowd eagerly waiting for their buses. Smita Krishna prabhu asked me, Prabhuji, how to start, whom should we approach first? The same question was looming around in my mind. Then I pointed towards a man and he reluctantly saw towards me as he had no prior experience. He forced me to approach him first so that he can learn from me. But deep inside, I knew I too have no confidence but I did not want to express it as he would get discouraged. So, we together moved towards that man. But, before I start the story, I would like to present the linguistic demography of Karnataka. Here, the majority of the population speak Kannada and then Marathi and Tulu. The muslim population speak hindi mix Urdu among themselves. So, anyone speaking Urdu/Hindi is considered to be a muslim first (Pattegars/Kshatriyas also speak a similar language) as the north Indian population is too low in North Karnataka. As I am from North India and still not learnt Kannada properly so I approached that man and started in my manageable Kannada and then shifted to Hindi. To my delight, that man also spoke in Hindi and I explained him about Bhagavad Geeta and requested him to purchase one copy of it. But He blatantly refused. I wanted to request him again but wait, I got a doubt in my mind, “How does he speak nice Hindi”? I did not want to force that reluctant person so, to create a friendly atmosphere I asked his name to know whether he is Marathi, Pattegar or luckily some North Indian? He replied in Hindi, “Mera naam Farooq Hai (My name is Farooq)”. So, I changed my way of preaching by citing similar verses present in Koran and Vedic scriptures. Resultantly, he showed interest and started turning the pages of Srimad Bhagavad Geeta and asking few spiritual questions.

Suddenly, a loud strong feminine voice screeched our conversation, “Who is Muslim among you”? All three of us (including Smita Krishna Prabhu) turned towards that voice and found a fat middle aged lady, veiled from head to toe by burqa with only eyes uncovered sitting little far on a bench with a big purse on her shoulder.

I tried to ignore her question and started preaching that man again but the lady did not stop and shouted again boldly, “I am asking who is muslim among you?” The man turned towards her and said,”I am”. The lady immediately asked me, “Then, what is your business with him, what are you talking to him?”

I asked her politely, “Mohtarama (Madam), why do you want to know this?”

The woman replied,” Since you people are talking in Hindi, so at least one amongst you must be a Muslim” and gazed towards our dhoti Kurta and made us understand her dissatisfaction.

Without going for any argument, I turned towards that man and requested him to take BG but by this time, his facial expressions were changed and he started slipping from us, intermittently looking towards that unknown woman fearfully.

The woman again shouted from that far attracting the attention of others standing nearby, “Why are you forcing him to take all those things?” “Who is Muslim here?”

Seeing the situation already gone worst and that man slipped from us, I turned towards her, went near her and replied very politely, “I am a Muslim or better say Musalman or better say Musallam iman”. She shocked and looked towards my Vaishnava attire again and asked my name. I replied , “ Is the name enough to make someone Muslim or Hindu.”

I continued politely saying, “What does Musalman means actually? It is actually Musallam iman. So, anyone who is walking on the path of goodness and piety, cent percent, is a Musallam iman, Musalman, So, I am a Musalman.”

The woman interrupted, “Oh,that is the definition you are talking about.”

I interrupted, “Is the definition only for the books or we have to practice it, follow it in our day to day life?”

She shook her head indicating positive response. It was becoming difficult for me to talk to her concentrating on her two eyes as this was the first time since my birth I was talking to any burqa clad woman.

I asked her, “How can you say someone Muslim or Hindu, just upon birth? Or just upon their family background? Many people are orphans. Many leave religion and convert afterwards. So, what is your parameter, madam. Our Guru in ISKCON teaches us that one have to practice the principles, then he can claim to be of that religion otherwise we all become Dharmadhvajis (Flag-holders), And then I explain the meaning of dharmadhvajis and the damage meted by such people to humanity and the religion itself.

The woman got pacified and spoke in a mild voice, “Actually I also organize classes for people and speak about Koran and other religions.” After hearing this, I understood she loves reading books so I put the SSR book on her hand and I exclaimed, “Wonderful. Do you conduct ijtema classes on Fridays for women.”

She looked surprisingly at me and continued, “Do you know about our classes? “I know all these things present in your books. I have read everything. I speak about all religion.”

The conversation continued and I requested her to take Science of Self-realization but she refused saying that she can not accept our books since it is of different religion. I replied with a concern, “I know, you can not take hindu books to your house. Even though we have Bhagavad Geeta, we are not requesting you to take that book because you can not read that book freely anywhere so please accept SSR.

She repeated, “I know everything, I have read all these things. That’s why I am able to conduct classes.”

I enquired, “Have you read Bhagavad Geeta or any book from ISKCON?”

She answered, “Although I have never read Bhagavad Geeta or whatever books of hindus, but I know everything. And overall, I do not know Kannada and English so I can not take your books.

I continued,” Its always better to read Bhagavad Geeta or koran ourselves rather than listening from here and there. Generally, people are biased and forgetful so you might have missed many points. If you pay us advance and provide your address and contact no, then we can arrange the Urdu version of SSR within one week. If you don’t know Kannada then you can request some kannada knowing person to read for you because after all its not Bhagavad Geeta which you would hesitate to take out in front of others. And moreover, after reading this book, you can preach your ladies with this extra knowledge and you would certainly become a better preacher than now.

She enquired, “What is the cost of this kannada version(of SSR)?”

We told her the rate and handed her the book and happily she take out money from her purse and paid the amount to us. She immediately kept the book inside her purse. We proceeded towards a next soul waiting for Srila Prabhupada’s books.

This was the first ever book distribution experience for Smita Krishna prabhu and after that he, with his continuously evolving skills, has been distributing books more efficiently and enthusiastically than me.

Your humble servant,

Harikatha Das.

Dharwad,Karnataka.