Prabhupada and the Birlas

[Guest guest]

Prabhupada and the Birlas

 

In 1971 one of the devotees in Calcutta made an appointment for

Srila Prabhupada to meet Mr. L.N. Birla, the first son of the senior

Birla. G.D. When the devotees informed Srila Prabhupada about the

appointment, but I want you to go." I inquired why. "In Bombay

recently I asked some big men for help but they refused. If he

refuses also, it won't be good for him and it won't be good for me."

I replied, "But what if he refuses me?Oh, you are just a young

boy! That doesn't matter."

 

Mr. Birla received us cordially. We showed him Srila Prabhupada's

books. Immediately he asked, "How much do I pay for these books?" I

thought," He can't just buy the books. He has to do more." So I

replied, "We don't actually sell the books. We only give them to

life members.What do I have to do to become a life member?" I

explained and gave him the form. He called his secretary, issued the

check and enrolled as a life member. Then I came to the real point -

Mayapur. But he replied, "Presently we are building hospitals." And

that was the end of the meeting. Back at the temple Srila Prabhupada

asked for the report. I thought I had been clever enough not to

allow Mr. Birla to just buy the books, but when Srila Prabhupada

heard the story he said, "You did wrong. When he asked how much the

books cost, you should have replied, 'These are our presentation to

you. Now we are building one temple in Mayapur. Kindly help us."

 

Years later in Bombay I got an appointment with Mr. G.D.Birla, L.N.

Birla's father. My assistant Puridasa and I took the special lift to

the top floor of the Birla office building. The floor was laid with

spectacular swirling green marble and the walls were lined with

mirrors so everything looked like marble. One could not distinguish

between marble and glass, horizontal and vertical. It was

bewildering. Mr. Birla's secretaries were expecting us. A few

minutes later Mr. Birla came in.

 

Mr. Birla began by confessing that for many years he had come

prejudice against us. "I don't know why. I just had some prejudice.

But now it is gone." Suddenly an important overseas call came and

Mr.Birla left the room. I started to think, "What to do now? What to

do?" Then I remembered I has some sets of Srimad-Bhagavatam and

Caitanya-Caritamrta in the back of the car.

 

It was the third day of December and we had just begun the book

distribution marathon. For two days I had gone out on the street to

distribute books and was relishing the nectar of sankirtana. But I

also began to consider that with so much effort I had distributed

one or two hundred small books, but with much less effort I could

meet a big man and with his donation distribute so many more books.

Finally I concluded, "Anyway, it's the marathon, so let me meet some

big men with sets." Thus the trunk of the car was filled with sets

of Prabhupada's books. "Puridasa! Quick! Run and bring the sets of

books. Don't worry how many boxes there are. The Birla people will

help you." (In those days the Bhagavatam was thirty volumes and

Caitanya-Caritamrta seventeen.) I was anxiously waiting for Purdasa,

fearing Mr.Birla might return first. Finally puridasa came rushing

with five large cartons of books - just moments before Mr.Birla.

 

As soon as Mr.Birla took his place I started showing him the books.

And he was perusing them and appreciating. After some time he

said, "How much do I owe you for these books?" His words suddenly

called to mind my previous meeting with the other Birla - and Srila

Prabhupada's instructions. "Oh, no! These books are our presentation

to you. We can't take anything for them." Mr.Birla countered, "These

are such beautiful books. I can't take them for free. I must pay

you.Oh, no! These are our presentations to you. We can't take

money for them." He was insisting. And me, I was still relatively

young and inexperienced. How could I argue with Mr.Birla? But still

I stuck to my point. "No. In our mind we have already given these

books to you as our gift. We cannot take payment for them under any

circumstance." He relented - but still he was not satisfied. So I

added, "But we are building one gurukula school in Juhu. If you like

you may help us. "I explained the project and showed him the plans

and budget. He said, "All right, you leave these with me and we'll

see what we can do."

 

Two days later Mr.Birla's secretary phoned, "Mr.Birla would like to

meet you. He has something for you." We were pleased to return to

his office to accept his kind and generous donation.

 

We can see how perfect and potent Srila Prabhupada's instructions

are. Ten years after the original incident, the same instruction

worked wonderfully. And we can see also how just by distributing

Srila Prabhupada's books, everything else follows - including

lakshmi. Thus we should faithfully remember Srila Prabhupada's

instructions and distribute his books as he desired.

 

- From the "Watering the Seed" by HH Giriraja Swami