What makes a good city? Is it the people or the city itself? Nope, without people who can boast about their city ,the city is nothing but useless. This was realised in Shantipur. I went to five different people and asked them about the places to visit in Shantipur. By the way, I had prepared a checklist even before leaving. None of them replied positively. Each one of them asked to me go somewhere else. I had no option left. After listening to a shopkeeper, I boarded a bus to Krishnanagar Palpara( Kisnanogor palpada). The way in which I was standing in the bus was close to that of a high jumper close to the pole. I got down somewhere close to palpara and crossed the road to catch a bus to Dubhulia. Dubhulia-An interesting story. When the shopkeeper named this place for the first time, I tried repeating it's name to store it my memory. I was unsuccessful. One of the guys who was waiting for a bus in palpara asked me what 'Gugoolia' meant when I asked him about reaching that place. After 5 minutes of code-breaking, he realised that it was Dubhulia and not Gugoolia. I boarded a bus to Dubhulia but I missed the stop. I was thrown out of the bus and had to walk back. Now, I had to catch a bus to Mayapur. I got a bus, but not a seat( as usual).
I reached Mayapur. I was about to enter the ISKON temple.
I reached Mayapur. I was about to enter the ISKON temple.
There is something interesting to talk about ISKON. As my friend Vivek always said, sustainable businesses in India will either include Health or Education or God. This ISKON is typical example for the third type. It is a well structured business plan. Some of the salient features include:
The people do not realise that they are involved in a business plan because the agent who forces them is not associated with businesses generally. That agent is God.
Right from the shoe keeper to the cloak room , every damn thing involves money. Along with these, there are glass boxes here and there asking for money.
Here are some of the pics from ISKON:
The people do not realise that they are involved in a business plan because the agent who forces them is not associated with businesses generally. That agent is God.
Right from the shoe keeper to the cloak room , every damn thing involves money. Along with these, there are glass boxes here and there asking for money.
Here are some of the pics from ISKON:
'The temple is not a temple.' Its a museum. The big dome you see is a shelter for the biggest statue of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, a well know traveller. He roamed around all the countries spreading the message of Krishna. But, I have a question. Did he assume that all Indians know what Krishna had to say? Or it is possible that, the foundation for a future business was very well preplanned? Answers lie in the eye.
I definitely have to talk about the 'prasadam'. Here prasadam does not have sanctity associated with it. Anything you get in the ISKON premises is 'prasadam'.
Example :
I definitely have to talk about the 'prasadam'. Here prasadam does not have sanctity associated with it. Anything you get in the ISKON premises is 'prasadam'.
Example :
In what part of India is Momo considered as 'pure Krishna Prasadam'? My reaction to that :
That's still unfinished. The best part of ISKON is its restaurant. I was waiting to eat some delicious food in a veg-only restaurant. Govinda's ( The higher taste) was a good restaurant. They offered me some Italian and Chinese 'prasadam' .
I bought some fried potato sticks and asked for a bill. The item in the bill said 'prasadam'.
Finally I left ISKON with a filled stomach. That was a moment of satisfaction. And to my fortune, I got a seat in the bus too. Ganga flowing besides me, music playing all the time and people conversing in Bengali.(Bangla) A good combination altogether.
This is Ganga at a distance.
Finally I left ISKON with a filled stomach. That was a moment of satisfaction. And to my fortune, I got a seat in the bus too. Ganga flowing besides me, music playing all the time and people conversing in Bengali.(Bangla) A good combination altogether.
This is Ganga at a distance.
I reached Kisnanogor( Krishnangar) and boarded a train back to Kul-llani(Kalyani). It was the same old crowded train and this was a glimpse at the normalcy I would fall into in the near future. A selfie to end the journey!