Brij Mohan Sethi

Giriraj Swami: Hare Krishna.

We are fortunate in so many ways but we are fortunate today that a very early staunch supporter of Srila Prabhupada in Bombay is with us, Mr. Brijmohan Sethi. Actually his father, Sri Pisorilal Sethi was a very early supporter of Srila Prabhupada in Bombay in India. He was one of the real heroes of the struggle to get the Juhu land and build the Juhu temple and even afterwards he was very generous and magnanimous in supporting the temple especially when it came to glorifying Srila Prabhupada, he, that’s Brijmohan’s father, he had this beautiful silver ārati set made for Prabhupada’s guru-puja and he put a large amount of money in fixed deposits so that the interest could pay perpetually for feasts on Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day (Vyasa-puja) and disappearance day. 

Mr. Sethi left this world about two years ago and I’m sure Brijmohan will tell us about his glorious life and service to Prabhupada and his glorious departure. Brijmohan himself was Mr. Sethi’s right-hand man. There was one incident—I don’t know if Brijmohan will relate it—but when the small Juhu temple, temporary temple, was demolished illegally by the municipality, with support from the police, we had one weekend to rebuild it otherwise the landlady was going to the court to stop us from rebuilding it. So the local municipal counselor who was part of the clique—Prabhupada used the word “clique”—against us, he came and he threatened Mr. Sethi that, “If you want you can try to rebuild the temple but I am going to come with fifty guṇḍās and destroy whatever you build.” And Mr. Sethi said, “Fifty is not enough. I have two hundred and fifty cartridges so you are going to have to bring at least two hundred and fifty-one.” And then he said, “Brijmohan, bring my rifle and revolver.” 

Brijmohan was always there by his side and now we will get to hear from Brijmohan directly. Hare Krishna.