The Bhakta Pralhad School (BPS) Parents' Orientation Program

Saturday, July 28, 2007.

Dear All,

Bhakta Pralhad School (BPS), which is run by devotees associated with the Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari Temple, ISKCON, Pune, had arranged a Seminar cum Orientation Program in the evening of the 28^th of July, 2007, for the parents of the little kids who attend this weekly school. It was held in the community hall of the housing society in which H. G. Srinivas Prabhu and his good wife Anna Mataji stay with their two kids. The program was very well attended. Such BPS programs are a great source of encouragement and inspiration for other congregation devotees to express their love for Srila Prabhupada and his mission in various ways.

Just before the start of the program, the parents were busy in dressing up all the excited kids in their various costumes. Yes, there were stage performances to give! The program started with a very sweet and enchanting kirtan led by Piyush Singh Prabhu. This was followed by a short introduction by H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu, who is a very senior and much respected devotee of the Pune congregation.

H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu

By this time the kids were really bubbling with excitement. Without further ado, the first stage performance started! The main characters in the skit included Krishna (ofcourse!), His parents Nanda Maharaja and Yashoda Mai, Radharani, Arjuna, and a few Gopas. The theme was that a devotee was singing a song of glorification for her beloved Lord Sri Krishna and the various stanzas were being enacted by the other characters. The song was sung very sweetly by Dipali Mataji. The skit drew a very appreciative applause from all the parents present.

The next event was even sweeter because it was performed by 5 year olds! They recited two verses from the Bhagavad Gita, with meaning. And this really drew a thundering applause from all present. After that there was a slightly larger skit. Its main characters were Narada Muni, a brahmana, and a cobbler. The theme was how the cobbler, though not as learned in the scriptures as the brahmana, had unflinching faith in the omnipotence of the Supreme Lord, and was therefore more dear to the Lord.

The third skit

After these performances by the kids, the kids were sent out to play in the adjoining garden :-) The kids just cant sit and listen to parents’ orientation seminars :-) The actual seminar that followed was conducted by another senior and respected congregation devotee – H. G. Sachi Tanuj Prahbu. He is also the father of one of the kids who performed in one of the skits.

H. G. Sachi Tanuj Prabhu

The seminar started with a small interactive exercise. All the parents were given a clay ball with which they were asked to make something in one minute. After this exercise was completed, all the parents were asked what they had made and what were they thinking while making it. All the parents had made very innocent things like modak (most popular), a water stand for the birds to come and sip water, a penguin, and so on. And the thoughts that went behind creating them were also very simple and innocent, like “let me make a modak to offer to Lord Krishna”, “let the birds come and sip water from this”, or “I made the penguin just like that…”

The point of this exercise was to demonstrate how all the adults still remember the things they used to do in their childhood. How none of them was feeling very grumpy about doing such a playful exercise. How no one just crushed the clay balls to vent his/her anger on it. The question that was posed then was “What will your kids make 25 years from now in a similar exercise?” What impressions are they going to carry with them for the rest of their life? Are these impressions going to be such innocent ones or nasty ones like those involving violence, boredom, sadness, and so on? Are we giving our kids a really happy childhood? Are our kids really happy watching TV all day while we are ourselves busy doing our own things?

These questions surely captured the attention of the parents. They were now listening attentively. The seminar continued on the theme. “What is it that parents want their children to have?” A good education, peaceful life, good values, and so on. Saci Tanuj Prabhu was expertly putting forward the thoughts so that all present could identify with them. He was also making sure that the seminar was lively and not monotonous.

Prasadam was arranged after the seminar. Overall, it was a nice evening out for the kids and the parents and there were quite a lot of things for the parents to take back home with them. It is wonderful how Lord Chaitanya’s mercy is flowing through all sections of the society. With initiatives like the Bhakta Pralhad School it wont be too far away that Gauranga’s holy names will be chanted in all towns and villages on the face of the earth!

Yours in the service of Krishna,
Abhijit.