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Remembering Tamal Krishna Goswami
By Urmila devi dasi

March 24, 2002

Dear Tamal Krishna Maharaja,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I first met you when you were traveling with Radha-Damodara. How I wished I could have joined that bus party! Yours and Visnujana Swami’s program was the epitome of a daily spiritual festival. In 1976-77 we had the good fortune to serve under your authority in Gita-nagari. With all respect to the many wonderful devotees under whom we have served Srila Prabhupada, I have always said that your guidance was the most wonderful. Not only was every thing expertly managed, but also every devotee felt your personal love and concern. Yes, you corrected—as when I went outside to yell for a devotee who was in the barn, telling him there was a phone call for him. You called me into the office and kindly informed me that screaming outside wasn’t exactly ladylike and would I not do that again.

When you left to personally serve Srila Prabhupada, we missed your leadership—your constant strict adherence to serving guru and Krishna, your constant concern that each devotee’s material and spiritual needs were being met, and your constant superb example of bhakti in both your preaching and behavior. When we again, briefly, got the opportunity to have your association in New York after Prabhupada’s disappearance, it was great solace. I remember one class of yours where all the devotees—and there were hundreds—stayed for hours to listen to your expert preaching and encouragement to one new young man who had many questions.

Many years later you and I were part of the international educational team that met in Germany. As always, when you saw me, you inquired as to the welfare of my family and me. An unquestionably strict sannyasi; a perfect gentleman. You sat in Germany and listened to my class—how awkward and inept I felt. You encouraged our gurukula staff in our course that teaches understanding and writing drama using your Jagannatha priya natakam as a text. And when we worked to produce a written guide for the course so others could use it as well, you gave us guidance as well as much of your previously unpublished material to include. Unfortunately, the problems with the system Harikesa established have stagnated progress and the book still waits to be printed.

While working on the drama course, I asked you whether or not you thought Prabhupada Anyta Lila would ever be performed. "Not until all the players have passed from this world," was your reply. Goswami Maharaja, who ever thought that you would indeed go so soon, leaving us in order to serve Prabhupada just as you did in 1977. Our lives are bereft. If we could have one particle of your devotion to Sri Guru and his mission, our own existence would be a success.

Your servant,
Urmila devi dasi

© CHAKRA 29 March 2002