Problems involved in keeping Srila Prabhupada's new Mercedes in India.

Many people came for the evening darsana. Srila Prabhupada received them in his room. However, he spoke little and simply had them chant Hare Krishna. Afterwards he talked with Gargamuni Swami about the Indian library program. Gargamuni said that not only was our own distribution going well, now a Calcutta company wants to purchase four lakhs worth of Caitanya-caritamrita a year from us to sell in Calcutta and its outlying districts. He also discussed the problems involved in keeping Srila Prabhupada's new Mercedes in India. In order to renew the carnet (temporary importation licence), it has to be taken out of the country every six months. The alternative?to pay 220% duty?is out of the question. Quite apart from this, Srila Prabhupada regularly travels between the major cities and thus the car has to be driven back and forth across country if he is to have use of it. All in all it is a great inconvenience. Gargamuni suggested that the car be taken to Teheran to be sold and the proceeds used to buy three Ambassadors?one in Bombay, one in Calcutta and one in Delhi-Vrindavana. Although Prabhupada was very pleased when Pushta Krishna brought the Mercedes, he agreed that it wasn't practical to keep it and consented to Gargamuni's proposal. They talked until 10:15 p.m., when Srila Prabhupada had channa and chinni (freshly-made cheese with sugar), before he took rest.