A partial India Marathon report by Amitachara Prabhu
This is a small report of the book distribution marathon 2003 in India with of course still a lot of nectar missing.
* The marathon in New Delhi was very good, up to 40 000 BG's or more were distributed.
* Here in Tirupati we had more than 30,000 Book Points (equivelent to 30,000 big books). We want to do more and more, please pray all for more blessings!
*I heard the news recently on coimbatore Rathayathra from the devotees of Salem. In 20 days they distributed 2,300 BG's (Bhagavad Gita's) with only 5 devotees distributing quite easily. Gokulachandra prabhu said: "The people are so ready" Average 100 BG's a day. At One program they took all the addresses of life members and friends of Krishna who had shops in Salem and told them to keep 10 BG's on their counter. First they were a little hesitant. Then he said: ”Don't worry just keep it there and we'll give you a beautiful poster in tamil language which advertises Srila Prabhupada's books, don't pay immediately. Afterwards we'll see how many books were sold and then we will settle the payment.” 50 shop owners on a voluntary basis without their taking any profit but as a service to temple agreed to this. When the devotees came back at the end of the month to all the shops, many had sold out and more than 5 shops were asking "Where were you? After a few days all my books were sold out and I wanted more books, people were asking but I couldn't reach you" (they were on TSKP).
Now these shops are continuing for the rest of the year also. Then on TSKP also they were approaching good people and requesting: "Why don't you take 5,10 or more copies as a gift to your friends as a new years present or birthday or festival time or marriage.
The Christians are doing like that (in 2002 60 million copies in Asia mostly India, at $5 each (250 rs.!) Why not with BG As It IS, which is born in India?
*In Mumbai Juhu sold 80,000BG's and Chowpatti 60,000 Bg's. *Ahmedabad 17,000 BG's and Baroda 3,000 BG’s.
The BG's were literally sold out. People were asking but there was no stock. This is a defeat for the BBT. Next year they will be much better prepared.
* Also in South India there was a nice increase, Madurai 5,000 BG's
* Also Sri Rangam and Ozur devotees were very active also in the village side.A few thousands of BG’s.
In Ahmedabad I heard there was 1 devotee who could alone manage to distribute 3000 BG's in the factories on the payment days. More and more devotees are distributing on the trains and at local temples with booktables.
Your servant,
Amitakrishna das
