Episode 4

Reflections on the Zonal Acarya Days GBC SPT welcomes you to join the fourth episode of our 5-week series on the GBC History. This series is to encourage devotees to ask any questions pertaining to the GBC body, its conception to inception to execution.  This is a specially exciting series as we welcome Gopal Bhatta Das and Pancharatna Das, who lived through the Zonal Acarya days of ISKCON and will share with us their first hand experiences.  About Gopal Bhatta Das Gopal Bhatta Dasa was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971 in Detroit, US. From 1973 until 1976, Gopal Bhatta Dasa served as a sankirtan leader for the following cities: Cleveland, Detroit, Dallas and Chicago. He was the temple president in Los Angeles from 1977 until 1980. It is unique that Gopal Bhatta das is currently in no position of formal leadership or management within ISKCON but he contributes with an independence that is considered by many to give a fresh perspective. He is the chairperson of the Strategic Planning Team (SPT) that was activated in 2006 and he has created vitality and drive among the team members that are supporting the GBC’s future. His vision for ISKCON is “more devotees, happier devotees.” He has three sons and one daughter, and his home base is Los Angeles, CA.  About Pancharatna Das Pancharatna dasa joined ISKCON in Toronto, Canada as a brahmacari in 1970. He went on to serve in ISKCON New York in various capacities until 1976 when he moved to Sri Mayapur. There he accepted many responsibilities including building construction and establishing the Bengali language division of the BBT. He met his wife Atitaguna dasi in Mayapur and was married there in 1980, raising four children with her mostly in Mayapur. He currently resides in Mayapur and serves the GBC in various capacities primarily through ISKCON Online.  About Kaunteya Das Kaunteya Dasa, a disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, joined ISKCON in 1980 and is a member of the SPT since 2007. He has served in ISKCON as a book distributor, Gurukula teacher, Deputy GBC member and GBC Zonal Secretary. Kaunteya Dasa currently serves as co-chair of the GBC Organizational Development Committee and, together with His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, as co-minister of the ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry. He has designed courses on congregational and community development and has presented them in dozens of countries; has compiled books (Bhakti-Vrksa Manual, Super Sunday and The Book of Icebreakers) and has produced twenty issues of the “Congregational Development Journal.” As “Dr Carlo Oppecini” he is professor of Indovedic Psychology and Philosophy at the Bhakti Yoga College, Florida, USA. He also serves as trustee and faculty member of the GBC College for Leadership Development.