Will Bangladesh Ban ISKCON After Hindu Monk’s Arrest? Tracing History Of Global Religious Body – News18

Last Updated:November 28, 2024, 11:20 IST

ISKCON vice president Radha Raman Das has called on world leaders to speak about the persecution the organisation is facing in Bangladesh. He pointed out that the situation is ‘out of hand’, and they will wait till January 20 for Donald Trump to take over…Read More

Hindu monk Krishna Das Prabhu shows a victory sign as he is taken in a police van after court ordered him detained pending further proceedings in Chattogram in Bangladesh, on November 26, 2024. (AP Image)

The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari by the Dhaka metropolitan police detective branch has become a flashpoint between the new interim government of Bangladesh led by chief adviser and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus and the Hindu community in the country.

The bloody student protests in Dhaka in July, which culminated in the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the fall of Awami League, led to the attacks on Hindus, who are perceived to be the supporters of the Hasina government.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who has condemned the arrest of their priest and Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote spokesperson Krishna Das, has been facing the ire of the Bangladeshi government for quite a few months.

Let us understand what work does ISKCON do, how influential it is, who are its popular followers and patrons and will it face a ban in Bangladesh?

What Is ISKCON And What Work Does It Do?

ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (born Abhay Charan De) — an Indian spiritual leader, who established hundreds of temples and wrote several books, teaching the path of ‘Bhakti’ to the world. ISKCON is commonly known as the ‘Hare Krishna’ movement.

Swami Prabhupada became an influential communicator of Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya’s theology to India and specifically to the West through his leadership of ISKCON.

Gaudiya Vaishnava is a Vaishnava Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Here, ‘Gaudiya’ refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region of Bengal with Vaishnavism meaning “the worship of Vishnu”. Gaudiya Vaishnava focuses on the devotional worship of Radha and Krishna, and their many divine incarnations as the supreme forms of God, Svayam and Bhagavan.

ISKCON members practice a distinct form of monotheistic Hinduism, grounded in Hindu scriptures and especially guided by Swami Prabhupada’s commentary and translation of the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana.

According to Hinduism.enacademic, ISKCON traces its roots in India to the early 16th century and expanded to gain followers in America, Europe, and Africa from the mid-to-late 20th century.

ISKCON believes in devotion towards Lord Krishna, whom they honour as the ‘Supreme Personality of Godhead’. The Hare Krishna movement advocates for lacto-vegetarianism.

Diana Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University, describes the movement as “a tradition that commands a respected place in the religious life of humankind.”

Members of ISKCON practice bhakti-yoga at homes and also worship in temples. They also promote bhakti-yoga, or Krishna Consciousness, through festivals, the performing arts, yoga seminars, public chanting, and the distribution of the society’s literatures.

What Are ISKCON’s Achievements?

India: ISKCON has over 800 temples, 12 state-recognised educational institutions, 25 affiliated and non-affiliated restaurants, and a number of tourist and pilgrimage hotels. The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, Mayapur in West Bengal is being built at the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Another one located called the Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir temple in the Raman Reti area of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, was built in the original village where Lord Krishna and Balarama are said to have resided in the Vedic period. There are other ISKCON temples in Raipur, Delhi, Chennai, Salem and Siliguri.

Europe: There are over 135 ISKCON-affiliated temples and cultural centers in Europe. The ISKCON movement in Europe focuses on the rural and farming communities, including Nueva Vrajamandala in Spain, La Nouvelle Mayapura in France, and Villa Vrindavan in Italy. There are 31 additional centres in Russia, as Vaishnava Hinduism represents one of the largest denominations of faith in the country.

Nepal: The ISKCON temple sits in the Shivapuri mountain in Kathmandu. The deities include Sri Sri Radha Govinda Hari, Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra, Gaur Nitai, Narasimha. Over 5,000 devotees participate in the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Nepal from across the globe, according to a 2018 report.

United Kingdom: The property for Bhaktivedanta Manor was donated by The Beatles’ George Harrison, and is on the National Heritage List for England. The houses on the property, including the temple, are built in the mock-Tudor mansion style of the 1800s. Bhaktivedanta Manor is also home to the London College of Vedic Studies, and is the birthplace of the Avanti Schools Trust, a sponsor of state-funded primary and secondary schools that provides both non-denominational and Hindu-faith education throughout the UK. In Europe, most of the devotees are ethnic Europeans, while in the UK they are the Indian immigrant population.

Americas: The United States has 56 affiliated centres, with the notable ones being the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple (Spanish Fork), Utah, New Raman Reti in Alachua, FL, and The Radha Kalachandji Temple in Dallas, TX. The ISKCON Dallas temple is affiliated with the nearby TKG Academy, which provides private school academic education with additional Vedic-based courses. There are 12 ISKCON centres in Canada, including the Vedic Education Centre (ISKCON Brampton) and the self-sustaining Saranagati Eco Village in BC. There are 5 formally affiliated ISKCON centers in Mexico. In Brazil and Argentina, there are 60 affiliated ISKCON temples.

Asia, Africa, Australasia: There are more than 80 ISKCON affiliated centres in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. There are 69 affiliated ISKCON centers in Africa, four of which are rural farming communities and three of which are educational centres. There are six ISKCON centers, including one farming village in Australia and four temple centers in New Zealand.

The various trusts under ISKCON supply books to ISKCON and book trade. The trusts not only handle the publishing, but also helps finance the construction and renovation of Krishna temples in the Gaudiya Vaishnava holy places like Vrindavan and Mayapur.

The ISCOWP (International Society for Cow Protection) claims to “present alternatives to agricultural and dietary practices that support and depend upon the meat and dairy industries’ slaughter of the cow”. Some trusts like the ISKCON tribal trust have set up schools and potable water sources for tribals.

Who Are The Popular Members And Patrons Of ISKCON?

Alfred Ford – The American businessman and the great-grandson of Henry Ford.

George Harrison — English guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer, and film producer, best known as a member of The Beatles.

Russell Brand — English comedian, actor, columnist, author and presenter of radio and television.

Crackdown On ISKCON In Bangladesh

Since the ouster of Hasina, Hindus in Bangladesh have been facing attacks, hate crimes. The port city of Chittagong saw tensions in early November after a Muslim grocer called ISKCON a “terrorist group” in a Facebook post. Clashes broke out in the Hazari Gali area, inhabited mainly by Hindus, leading to many people getting injured.

Social media campaigns with hashtags #baniskcon, #ISKCONmustbebanned, #hindutvapropaganda, and #hindusplayingvictim have flooded Facebook, Instagram, and X, according to a report by Indian Today.

There are allegations that the Hindu religious organization is promoting the interests of Awami League.

Bangladesh’s The Daily Star reported that the Bangladesh High Court has told Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman to inform the court of the steps taken by the government concerning ISKCON’s recent activities. This came after a Supreme Court lawyer, Moniruzzaman, sought a ban on the Hindu organisation’s operations.

Reacting to the petition, ISKCON vice president Radha Raman Das called on world leaders to speak about the issue. “The situation is out of hand. Not in our control now. We will wait for January 20 when Donald Trump gets in[to] office. Hope things proceed then,” India Today, quoted Raman Das as saying.

Furore Over Hindu Monk’s Arrest

ISKCON has called upon India to intervene in the matter of Krishna Das’ arrest and engage with Bangladesh for the release of its priest. It has strongly denied allegations levelled against the monk, for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities worldwide and called them unfounded and unacceptable.

Media reports suggest that Krishna Das has been accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag at a rally he addressed in October in Chattogram. He is among 18 individuals charged with sedition for hoisting a saffron flag. Krishna Das had recently addressed a massive protest rally in violence-stricken Rangpur on November 22, condemning the ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. He has been one of the towering figures among Bangladesh’s Hindu minority and has been vocal about the recent attacks on them.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, had said, “We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das… This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples.”

“It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings,” it added.

“We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression,” the statement said.