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Naxalites disturbance

Giriraj Swami: On the first night of the Calcutta pandal, there were many Naxalites (communists in Bengal) in the audience ready to disturb the program. On two sides of the pandal there were folding wooden chairs for VIPs to sit on, and in the middle and at the rear there was a carpet for everyone else to sit on. The Naxalites began making agitation, "Why do some people have chairs and not others?" They started to smash chairs together while Prabhupada was trying to speak. It was a big disturbance, and some devotees, went to talk to them, but the Naxalites starting shouting at the devotees and the devotees starting shouting at the Naxalites. The disturbance became worse, and we didn't know what to do.

Prabhupada stopped speaking, closed his eyes, and with intense absorption and love for Krishna, began to sing the Govindam prayers, Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami, over the microphone. Prabhupada was not thinking of anything else. Gradually the Naxalites were overcome by the influence of Srila Prabhupada's devotion. They quieted down, put the chairs back in order, and left. Srila Prabhupada had complete faith in Krishna and in His holy name, more than he had faith in his personal strength or ability. When we act in the same way, depending on Krishna and Krishna's mercy, Krishna always reciprocates.


Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 2 by Siddhanta Dasa