Radhanath Swami's Social Contributions - Introduction

Richard, later Radhanath Swami, could see India across her borders, but to enter this dreamland of his, Radhanath Swami had to cross a hurdle—the immigration desk. Radhanath Swami had been traveling for three months now and his destination was so close—yet so far. His empty pockets had invited the icy stares and rebuke of the immigration officer: they didn’t want any more beggars in their country.

When there was a shift at the immigration desk and an elderly Sikh took charge, Richard (Radhanath Swami) went for another stab to make an entry. With tears springing out his eyes, Richard (Radhanath Swami) pleaded to the officer at the immigration desk, “Please be kind to me. Someday, I promise, to do something good for the people of India. Honestly, sir, I will help your people. Please give me a chance.” At this point, the officer snapped, and tears filled his eyes. He stamped Richard’s (Radhanath Swami's) legal entrance into India. (Radhanath Swami describes this incident in greater detail in his Autobiography, The Journey Home.)

Was that tearful promise a corn from a teenager, put up in desperation to dodge the situation? Was it one of those sporadic promises that spew out during extreme emotions, only to be forgotten later?  Or was Richard (Radhanath Swami) sincere about his promise?

Now, forty years later, we scour Radhanath Swami’s contributions to society—with extra focus on his contribution to India. Has he kept his promise?

For the past twenty-five years Radhanath Swami has directed a number of acclaimed social action projects including Midday Meals, which daily serves more than 260,000 plates of sanctified vegetarian food to the children of the slums of Mumbai. He has also worked to establish missionary hospitals and eye camps, eco-friendly farms, schools and ashrams, an orphanage, and a number of emergency relief programs throughout India. Come, let’s explore these projects, and contribute whatever we can towards these noble causes.