James cook, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus and Francisco Pizarro are names of few famous European sailors who marked their names in the history of the world for undertaking life -threatening sailing expeditions in the exploration of world. Although the initial impulse behind these expeditions were trade and capitalism, it further lead to rise of colonial empires, transfer of animals, foods, human populations (including slaves), communicable diseases around the world. In the 20th century many wars were fought and countless people sacrificed their lives for breaking free of bonds brought by colonization in order to achieve independence. What started with an adventurous endeavor ended with bloody affair since it was based on lust and greed for power.
On August 13, 1965, a person in India started his sail across oceans on a mission.He had neither manpower to sail along nor artillery to fight a war, but only a bag full books and door of all uncertainties left ajar. At 70 and with just 40 rupees in hand, he traveled because his guru had order him to go. Sea-sickness, nausea and heart attacks could not shake his determination, for he only begged to be a doll in the hands of God, instrument of his compassion. He got down the ship on Boston harbor, alone in a word of unknown faces and culture. Sitting under a tree in a park, he started his mission by singing the names of God. Intoxicated hippies joined, their spark of love of God being ignited. Soon the spark become fire, and within a few years, hordes of devotees were traveling across the world, singing and dancing, dressed in Vaisnava attire. Temples, farms, gurukulas, Rathyatras everything became a reality. Sanctified food and devotional books were distributed to dissipate hunger and ignorance, and the names of Lord Krishna were being heard in every town and village all over the world. He was Srila Prabhupada, the most prominent emissary of Indian spiritual culture across the world. August 13 marks the 50th anniversary of the historic event of his boarding the ship Jaladuta at Kolkata to go to the West for spreading this sublime message of India across the western world. He said, "I have made a home in which the whole world can stay."
James Cook, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus na Francisco Pizarro ni majina ya mabaharia wachache maarufu wa Ulaya ambao walijifunza majina yao katika historia ya ulimwengu kwa kufanya safari za kuogelea zenye kutisha maisha katika uvumbuzi wa ulimwengu. Ingawa msukumo wa awali nyuma ya safari hizi ulikuwa biashara na ubepari, zaidi ya hayo ilisababisha kuongezeka kwa milki za kikoloni, uhamisho wa wanyama, chakula, idadi ya watu (ikiwa ni pamoja na watumwa), magonjwa ya kuambukiza ulimwenguni kote. Katika karne ya ishirini, vita vingi vilifanyika na watu wengi walipoteza maisha yao kwa kutoroka kutoka kwa vifungo vilivyoletwa na ukoloni ili kufikia uhuru. Kile kilichoanza kama jitihada ya kujihusisha na mambo ya kimapenzi kilimalizika kwa uchumba wenye umwagaji damu kwa kuwa kilitegemea tamaa na pupa ya kupata mamlaka. "Mwanamume mmoja wa India alianza safari ya baharini mnamo Agosti 13, 1965 akiwa na ""mashine ya watu"" na ""mashine ya silaha"" lakini akaachwa na mfuko wa vitabu na mlango wa mashine." Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka 70, akiwa na rupi 40 tu mkononi, alisafiri kwa sababu Guru wake alikuwa amemwamuru aende. Ugonjwa wa baharini, kichefuchefu na mshtuko wa moyo haukuweza kutikisa azimio lake, kwa sababu aliomba tu kuwa mwanasesere mikononi mwa Mungu, chombo cha huruma yake. Alitoka kwenye meli katika bandari ya Boston, akiwa peke yake katika eneo lenye watu na utamaduni usiojulikana. Akiwa ameketi chini ya mti katika bustani, alianza utume wake kwa kuimba majina ya Mungu. Wahippi waliolelewa na kileo walijiunga nao, na kichocheo chao cha upendo kwa Mungu kikawaka. Punde si punde, mwangaza huo ukawa moto, na baada ya miaka michache, makundi ya waabudu yalikuwa yakisafiri ulimwenguni pote, wakiimba na kucheza dansi, wakiwa wamevalia mavazi ya Waishnava. Hekalu, mashamba, gurukulas, Rathyatras kila kitu ikawa ukweli. Chakula kitakatifu na vitabu vya ibada viligawanywa ili kuondoa njaa na ujinga, na majina ya Bwana Krishna yalikuwa yakisikika katika kila mji na kijiji ulimwenguni kote. Srila Prabhupada alikuwa mjumbe mashuhuri wa utamaduni wa kiroho wa India ulimwenguni. Mwaka huu ni mwaka wa kwanza kwa kiongozi wa India kuwasili katika meli ya Jaladuta, na kueneza ujumbe wake kwa nchi za Magharibi. "Akasema: ""Nimejenga nyumba ambayo watu wote wanaweza kukaa ndani yake."""