Rare glimpse offered into Hare Krishna finance

This article, "Rare glimpse offered into Hare Krishna finance" was published in Chicago Tribune, December 13, 1975, in Chicago, Illinois.

THE PRESIDENT of the Chicago branch of the Hare Krishna religious sect for the first time gave a glimpse this week of the sect's local financial picture while defending the group's right to publicly distribute religious tracts as a major source of income. 

"Since November, 1973, over 100,000 hardbound books and over 200,000 softbound books or magazines have been distributed at O'Hare Airport alone," said Uttama Sloka Das, president of the sect's local temple at 1014 Emerson St., Evanston.

Uttama said the sect always seeks a contribution of between $2 and $5 from those accepting the books "but naturally he'll ask for more. Usually we get around $4 or $5." 

However, reports from those accepting one book at O'Hare have shown that $10 is not an unusual price paid to the Krishnas. 

UTTAMA SAID A 25-cent contribution is generally donated for the magazine, although a $1 donation is not infrequent. 

At a minimum, this would mean that the Krishnas have collected about $250,000 since November, 1973 - $200,000 from the sale of 100,000 hardbound books at $2 each and $50,000 from the sale of 200,000 softbound books and magazines at 25 cents each. 

At a maximum, however, sales of the books and magazines may have brought in much more. Figuring the sales of hardbound books on the basis of $5 per book, total income would have equaled about $550,000 since 1973 from book and magazine sales. 

And, if half of those hardbound copies were distributed at the $10 rate, income would have totalled $800,000. 

Uttama, while not verifying income figures, said 70 per cent of any income from the book sales covers printing costs.