A Letter to the Landlord

On January 14, 1966, Prabhupada decided to write the owner of the building, Mr. A.B. Hartman. He explained how his plans had been upset, and he proposed a new plan:

Now the Prime Minister Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri is suddenly dead, and I am greatly perplexed . . . As there is now great difficulty for getting money from India, I am requesting you to allow me to use the place for the Institution For God consciousness, at least for some time. The house is lying vacant for so many days without any use, and I learn it that you are paying the taxes, insurance and other charges for the house although you have no income from there. If, however, you, allow this place for this public institution, you shall at least save the taxes and other charges which you are paying now for nothing.

If I can start the institution immediately, certainly I shall be able to get sympathy locally, and in that case I may not be required to get money from India. I am also requesting that your honor become one of the Directors of this public institution because you will give a place to start the institution.

A.B. Hartman wasn’t interested.