Rasakeli Dasi
Legal name Arti Saxena
- Teacher, TKG Academy, Dallas, Texas (at the time of the 2016–2018 allegations)
Record summary
1 entry — 1 ISKCON finding.
Last reviewedBio
Rasakeli Dasi (legal name Arti Saxena) is an initiated disciple of Radhanath Swami, according to a 2021 decision of ISKCON’s Central Office of Child Protection, which describes her as living in Dallas, Texas. During 2016–2018 she was a teacher at TKG Academy, the school of the Dallas Hare Krishna community. The decision notes that by the time Dallas Child Protective Services looked at the case she was no longer teaching there. Her birth year and other activity are not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Record
1 entry · most established firstVerbal/emotional abuse and neglect of a pupil at TKG Academy, Dallas
ISKCON's Central Office of Child Protection found in July 2021 that, as a teacher at TKG Academy in Dallas, she was responsible for "child neglect and verbal/emotional abuse" of a young pupil during 2016–2018. The allegations were that she regularly scolded him, used derogatory terms for him, yelled at him and made him sit at the "dummy table"; denied him the use of the water fountain and the bathroom at school; and withheld warmth and imposed "developmentally inappropriate expectations". The panel relied on the child's own accounts, witnesses who confirmed she stopped him using the water fountain "on multiple occasions", similar reports from other parents of former pupils, and the child's psychotherapist. The office said it had received seven further statements about her from victims and witnesses, concerning boys and girls in her classroom or afternoon care.
The decision does not give the child’s age or the exact dates of the events, and it does not say who brought the complaint.
As a lifetime restriction she may not have "service involving children in any ISKCON temple, school or project" (anyone under 18), subject to a psychological evaluation, including an assessment of risk to children, by someone approved by the office, and to therapy or counselling, which she must complete if she wishes to hold any position of authority or leadership involving children. For two years: no visible leadership or management, including giving class, leading kirtan or harinama, or public worship; and she may not be present where the victims or their families are present. The panel strongly suggested a letter of apology to the child and the TKG Academy/Dallas community. The case was reported to Dallas Child Protective Services, which took no further action once it found she was no longer teaching at the school and the child was no longer in her care. Whether she appealed is not known.
No statement by her is recorded in the decision, and no public statement by her has been found. [1]
Sources (1)
- [1]Official Decision of the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection on the case of Rasakeli dasi (Arti Saxena), concluded 3 July 2021, Jul 3, 2021 (document) original
Places
1People affected
1 people affected · 0 died- A young pupil at TKG Academy, Dallas, 2016–2018ISKCON's child-protection office found in 2021 that his teacher, Rasakeli Dasi, was more likely than not responsible for "child neglect and verbal/emotional abuse" of him, including denying him the use of the water fountain and the bathroom Abused.ConnectionISKCON finding
Timeline
Each status change in this record, on one axis, with the periods of the cases Rasakeli Dasi is involved in.
- 2021
- ISKCON findingJul 3, 2021 Verbal/emotional abuse and neglect of a pupil at TKG Academy, Dallas Official Decision of ISKCON's Central Office of Child Protection (International Child Protection Office, UK); marked confidential. The review panel found it "more likely than not that Rasakeli dasi is responsible for child neglect and verbal/emotional abuse" and called it "an ecclesiastic decision".