- The Residents of Vrindavan and Braj Mandal
- Yatris who love Vrindavan Dham
- Goswamis of the important Temples of Vrindavan
- Public Administrators
- Brahmins and Tirtha Gurus
- Members of the business community of the Dham
- Leaders of all Hindu-related organizations and especially those with centers in Braj Mandal
- Friends and believers of the Sanatan Dharm
Subject: Reasons why all of us must join together now to stop the attack on Vrindavan Dham!
Vrindavan is under attack. This is an ongoing attack and one may find evidence of it in every part of town: sewage treatment is inadequate; traffic is a congested chaos; safe drinking water is scarce; the ghats are in ruins and encroached by garbage. These are only a few of the most striking examples causing danger to the residents, yatris, plants and animals and reputation of Vrindavan.
In this letter, we hope to explain that the reason that this threat exists is that current plans for the Dham are insufficient and must include a greater degree of research and expertise. We will also speak out against three lies regarding this attack that have thus far kept Vrindavan from getting the care it deserves.
Lie Number One: Destruction of the environment and historic buildings is necessary if Vrindavan wants to grow and have modern amenities. One must choose between destructive development and economic growth or conservation and economic backwardness.
Lie Number Two: Those who care about Vrindavan are powerless against the destructive forces of poorly planned development. One must wait for a special person or organization to save Vrindavan.
Lie Number Three: Those who want to save Vrindavan may do so by acting in their own communities only and differences among groups make a joint effort is too difficult.
First of all, there are no adequate plans for our problems listed above. The Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority sells flats but has no plans which seem to have the slightest hope that they may work for our ghats, traffic, black waters etc. Plans which do exist, such as that for the flyover in Keshi Ghat, which pushes the Yamuna back from Vrindavan with 23 two meter diameter pillars and traps sewage dumped in the river to create a poison lake in front of the Ghats, have been hurriedly made without assessing consequences for the people, animals, plants and cultural integrity of Vrindavan.
This negligence is the root cause of nearly all of the town’s problems, and thus the attack on Vrindavan is being made by all of those who are too careless, greedy or lazy to think of a proper plan for Vrindavan’s future. This includes every one of us who does not take part in efforts to influence the MVDA and other government development planners.
So why is this happening when Vrindavan is a medieval town of unequalled architectural beauty and filled with sacred sanctuaries mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas? It has a wonderful historic past and a living spiritual tradition that is a treasure for the entire world. These special qualities of Vrindavan are known as heritage and many people from India and all around the globe want to protect it so that they may experience and learn from Vrindavan’s history and culture.
It is happening because people believe in the first lie outlined above. However, it is NOT true that destruction of the environment and historic buildings is necessary if Vrindavan wants to grow and have modern amenities. One does NOT have to choose between destructive development and economic growth or conservation and economic backwardness.
The international agency UNESCO, famous for its ability to help places like Vrindavan achieve economic development while also keeping its environment and heritage intact, is interested in working with local authorities in Vrindavan to make sensible plans for its future. UNESCO is also interested in giving Vrindavan special recognition among the world’s cultural centers. This recognition is called World Heritage Status, and it would help protect Vrindavan as it simultaneously grows and receives more pilgrims and visitors.
Sensible planning must be undertaken if Vrindavan is to obtain such high-level help and recognition. The current plan for the flyover in the Yamuna in front of Keshi Ghat will ruin Vrindavan’s chances for special status. Why? Because it irreparably damages the heritage of the town by ruining the beauty of the Keshi Ghat area and contributing to pollution and illness for Yamuna, yatris and citizens.
With or without the added fame and pride associated with international recognition, we must realize that there are ways for Vrindavan to enjoy the benefits of economic growth and still work to restore and maintain the natural beauty and historic temples for which it is known. Several good ideas have already been proposed, including a plan for a Yamuna channel to return the river to its rightful place in front of the ghats while a forest on the opposite side of the Yamuna contains hidden parking lots.
This new approach to the Parikrama Marg will protect the walkways in Vrindavan so that yatris may have a safe and peaceful visit to Vrindavan during which they can envision Lord Krishna’s lila by looking at the well-tended scenery. We invite you to participate in creating a vision for Vrindavan and share your ideas as well. In fact, it is absolutely necessary that you do this. Why? Because it is not true that those who care about Vrindavan are powerless against the destructive forces of poorly planned development. In fact:
Those who care about Vrindavan are the only power that can succeed against the destructive forces of poorly planned development. People must make their voices heard. Otherwise, the attack will continue. We will offer one example illustrating this: instead of investing the time and money to improve Vrindavan once and for all, the UP government has taken a different approach.
Knowing that people will not want to visit a place with problems like those currently plaguing Vrindavan, they have made a master plan to make picnic malls like Choki Dhani in Jaipur along the highways between Delhi and Agra. These are in the Vrindavan style and have names such as Govardhan, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Varsana. Shopping, business, and visiting exhibits of dioramas of the lilas are available here, along with full modern amenities and spacious parking areas.
These shopping areas use the glory of Braj and Vrindavan to make money while Vrindavan cannot even be given its first official parking place to tackle the traffic disaster. Is this in the public interest? Does it give a chance to local Brijbhasis to develop? We will tell you the answer: it does not. These current plans simply make the quickest path possible to tourism money by drawing business away from Braj villages and Vrindavan and do not consider job creation; health; history; nature, or even Krishna himself beyond his ability to draw people and money to his Dham.
A better Vrindavan is possible. We must believe this. The restoration of Brahma Kunda by Braj Foundation shows that Vrindavan and all of Braj Mandal can be saved. The administration can be encouraged to enlist the help of professionals and make a master plan for the revival of the true beautiful medieval town with modern facilities, including underground electricity cables, proper sewage and wastewater treatment, and the absence of plastic waste.
However, this cannot be achieved if everyone acts on his or her own. Those who want to save Vrindavan cannot do so by acting in their own communities only and differences among groups must be surmounted. A true alliance of businesses, institutions and individuals speaking loud and clear and offering sensible alternatives to the current situation is the only way to gain the credibility and attention necessary for change. Working together with local community leaders, religious authorities, local administration and experts from agencies in Delhi such as INTACH we can create a better Vrindavan.
We must all participate in a forum based on:
- actively creating a master plan for improving Vrindavan that respects its people, environment and heritage
- participating in nonviolent protest against irresponsible development when necessary
Let us clearly set the list of the common interests we all agree on. These can then be incorporated into a master plan for Vrindavan that shall be signed by as many important people as we can get behind it.
Then we can start doing the job of making that master plan become a reality. If the
plan we present is not given respectful consideration and the attack on Vrindavan goes on unabated, we must fight through the courts and make peaceful protests until our voice is heard. Only then will Vrindavan’s integrity have a chance of surviving and only then will there be a chance to allow UNESCO to help us introduce even more people to the glory of Vrindavan while protecting it and creating jobs for the local residents.
The importance of maintaining unity cannot be stressed enough. Those who want the attack on the Dham to continue utilize bribery and lies to try to create dissention amongst those of us working to protect it. We must not fall victim to these tactics. We must remember that our different mandirs, ashrams, shops, and homes are all victim to the attack on Vrindavan’s beauty, hygiene, air quality, and noise levels. They are all suffering on several levels from the constant mistreatment of Yamuna-ji. This is all that matters now. Our differences have no importance at this crucial moment. Let us make those responsible for Vrindavan’s development realize that followers of Sanatan Dharm are ready to undertake any nonviolent action necessary to save the Dham.
This attack on our town and its holy river has been allowed to go on for far too long. Please do not delay action any further. The attack on Vrindavan has to be brought to a halt once and for all.
Join us at our weekly meetings of the Braj Vrindavan Alliance to learn more and join in the efforts to stop the attack on Vrindavan.
Contact any BVHA member or this site for details on future meetings' times and places.
Thank you for reading this. We look forward to working with you to accomplish the goals stated herein.
In the service of Sri Sri Radha Krishna, Brijbhasis and all friends of the Dham,
The Aspiring Servants of Vrindavan.
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