President of India Lays Foundation Stone of Lord Caitanya Museum

On 16^th  of September 2013, the President of India, Honorable Mr. Pranab Mukherjee graced the Bagbazar Gaudiya Mission (Kolkata, India) by placing the first stone on the base of Lord Chaitanya Museum.
The ceremony was followed by speeches, lunch and a prestigious Vaishnava conference.
This museum has been a dream of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, the founder of Gaudiya Mission and finally it is being materialized. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was very dynamic, creative and liked pictorial expressions. His followers have planned everything accordingly. The museum will have artifacts, books, scriptures, manuscripts, letters, personal belongings of Lord Chaitanya and His associates, and many other significant items belonging to the era after Lord Chaitanya left the material world until Krishna Consciousness was revived by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.
President Mukherjee was spellbound at the whole conceptual plan and outlook of the proposed museum. The current authority of the Bagbazar Gaudiya Mission has assembled some letters, artifacts and a manuscript with Lord Chaitanya’s handwriting on it. The devotees were extremely homely and cordial. The media entry was extremely restricted due to security purposes. President Mukherjee gave a splendid speech and introduced his family to the audience. He had a Vaishnava background but now he is a saktya, but he admitted and expressed that he is favorable and like Krishna consciousness movement. He appreciated Gaudiya mission and touched upon ISKCON too.
Along with him there were many eminent stalwart devotees of Gaudiya mission who gave speeches. Followed by the speech session, was sumptuous lunch prasadam. There were over 32 preparations. As soon as the President sat down to honor prasad, out of excitement like a baby uttered “can I have some sweet rice, I love sweet rice”. Everybody was elated and surprised at the same time.
President of India has given full support to the Gaudiya Mission and has agreed to help in every way possible. The museum will not only fulfill its task of highlighting and emphasizing upon Lord Chaitanya’s Life, but will also touch upon the hearts of countless fallen souls and even inspire the devotees to proceed along the path shown forth by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

 By: Radha Sakhi Dasi ISKCON News on Oct. 2, 2013
http://news.iskcon.org/president-of-india-lays-corner-stone-of-lord-caitanya-museum,4077/