Rameshvara Das
3rd Dec 1942 – 29th March 2020
A very prominent and committed member of Bhaktivedanta Manor, whose extraordinary contribution of over 35 years of service spans throughout the UK, Europe and India.
About
His extraordinary contribution of over 35 years of service spans throughout the UK, Europe and India. From the late 80’s his family started hosting the North London sangas. Attracted by the mission and feeling concern for the need to support Bhaktivedanta Manor, he became more committed. As a founding member of the Manor’s Patron Council, he along with other devotees found many other families to commit their financial support. During the late 80’s and early 90’s, the Manor was also gripped by the legal battle due to the threat of closure. Rameshvara das personally took on many risks in raising funds and was a key strategic advisor. The glorious victory of the Manor campaign in 1996 is testament of how he worked with and served tirelessly to get the desired result.
He supported the setting up of the Avanti Schools. He was founding Trustee of the I-Foundation and continued to serve by offering financial and strategic advice throughout the growth of Avanti’s seven faith and four non-denominational schools across the UK.
Rameshvara das was always available for sound property and financial advice to the ISKCON UK Management Council. He advised on the acquisition of the new temples in Dublin and Cardiff. In Leicester, Rameshvara had been integral in the purchase of the iconic Victorian building in the heart of the city. He also helped guide the devotees in Leicester to build their patron programme and he and other Manor colleagues arranged a substantial donation to undertake the renovation of the temple.
His ability to fight and take on big challenges attracted the attention of many senior devotees abroad. They invited his help and perspective on difficulties faced in their preaching fields. The early 90’s saw many challenges faced by the New Mayapur community in France. Rameshvara engaged not only himself but brought along colleagues from Bhaktivedanta Manor to support them.
He also supported projects in India: He was moved by the endeavours of Rupa Raghunatha das and lent his support to set up the Sandipani Muni Schools to serve the poor families of Vrindavan and offer not only meals but life changing education and opportunities.
Rameshvara das always served his spiritual master with attention and devotion. He supported many projects initiated by Bhakti Charu Swami, especially the building of the beautiful temple in Ujjain, which was built in record time.
In Sridham Mayapur, Rameshvara stepped in to help Bhakti Purusottama Swami to establish the local Bhaktivedanta National School. Recently, he sponsored schools in rural parts of Bengal and beyond. In serving those schools projects, he engaged many people from business friends to famous authors and clients of his.
Rameshvara had great humility and a strong work ethic. Despite his advancing age, would often be seen working hard in the kitchens of Bhaktivedanta Manor and encouraging the younger generations. There are also countless devotees he has helped on a personal level, ensuring they are engaged in service and compassionately ensuring that they were taken care of.
We salute a valiant soldier. We express our gratitude to a kind and warm-hearted father and husband. We offer our respects to the devotion of a dedicated disciple. We celebrate a life of unconditional devotional service.
Gallery
Serving in the festival kitchen
During the Manor’s campaign days
With his guru, H.H. Bhakti Caru Swami
It is a terrible blow to lose the presence and association of another dear devotee friend. I have no doubt that Rameshwar’s passing has hit everyone very hard. And, it feels awful that we cannot be together as his family and friends to personally share our grief, memories and celebrations of his amazing life. But, I thank his family for this opportunity to offer a small and unworthy tribute to a personality that I treasured in many ways. Although not that much older than myself in years, I always regarded Rameshwar as a senior figure, as someone of my elders’… Read more »
In August of 2019, residents of New Mayapur told me how grateful they were that devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor, headed by Rameshwar Prabhu, had collected a significant amount of money to repair New Mayapur castle’s roof, which had been leaking. A week or two later I was walking around the Janmastami preparation tents on the Manor grounds when I had the good fortune to meet Rameshwar Prabhu for the first time. He, along with a large team of other volunteers, was deeply engrossed in Janmastami cooking. I told him how grateful the New Mayapur residents were for his donations for… Read more »
Rameshwar prabhu devoted his life and his field of expertise for the benefit of Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON as a whole. He was a generous, skilled and humble devotee who was greatly respected by many. As well as taking responsibilities on many ‘high-ended’ projects, he still had the humility and energy to volunteer for the Manor’s kitchens and always had a very positive and encouraging mood, carrying much friendliness and sense of humour too.