Меморандум для Совета ISKCON по образованию (ISKCON Board of Education) о расследовании развратных действий в отношении детей в гурукуле в Маяпуре, с докладом Специальной группы по расследованию (Ad-Hoc Investigation Team) от 11 июля 1991 года

BHAKTIVEDANTA GURUKULA VILLAGE
                                    SRI DHAM MAYAPUR

                                        MEMORANDUM


                 of Ed ucat io n c/ o Sr i Ra ma da sa , an d HH Go ur
TO: ISKCON Board
Govinda Swami

CC: ISKCON Mayapur GBC zo na l se cr et ar ie s, al l GB C me mber s,
Gurukula parents.

                         tio n in ve st ig at io n an d su bs eq ue nt ac tio n.
RE: Recent child molesta
Ple as e ac ce pt ou r hu mb le obeis an ce s. Al l glor ie s to Sr ila
Prabhupada.

             e  pa re nt s  of  a   5  ye ar ol d   da y stu de nt in  th e Ma  ya pu r
On 5 July th                                                  he r co mm  unity
gurukula re po rte d to    sc ho ol   au th or iti es an d ot
members that their son had been molested th    by som           e pre-teen-aged
students. This revelatio n, ‘to ge th er wi th   at of an othe r in cid ent
between a 7-year old day student and      a 14-year-old which had come
to light tw o da ys  be fo  re , promp ted  re sid en t GB C To sa n  Kr ish na
dasa and othe r pa  re nt s  to  ca ll fo r a  fu ll sc al e in ve st ig at io n
into child abuse at the Mayapur gurukula.

The inve st ig at ion  tea m ap po  int  ed ,  as  pe   r  the   GB C   re so lu tio  n   #90-
119, was Adi Karta da      sa , rece   nt ly   ar riv  ed    Ge ne ra l  ma na ge  r   of  th e
gurukula, Dayarama dasa       , co -g en  er  al  ma  na  ge r ISK CO  N  Ma  ya pu  r  (b ot h
Mayapur Administr     at ion Co un   cil  me  mb  ers )   an d Bh ak  tar up a  da   sa .
Tosan Krishna dasa also participated on the team.

During six days of intensive work by this team nearly every
student and many tea ch ers we re int erv iew ed . The tea m subm itte d a
writen report to us on 11 July which named 10 serious
perpetrators among the students (with ages ranging from 10-19),
two serious perpetrators from the greater devotee community, one
suspected perpetrator aged 22 from the gurukula non-teaching
sta ff, thr ee min or pe rpe tra tor s amo ng the stu de nts (ag ed 10 -15 ),
and 16 additional boys who were victimized by the perpetrators to
one degree or another but did not contaminate others.

58 boys and the entire teaching and administrative staff were
cleared of involvement.

We, the gurukula administration took immediate action on the
report expelling all of the perpetrators. In a determined effort
to eliminate this problem, as well as others, a couple of the
'yictim-only' and a few boys not mentioned in the report were
also moved out of the school. Most of the expelled students have
been sent home, although a few boys for whom we felt proper
arrangements could be made will be engaged outside of the
gurukula or at other temples.                      :

Much soul-searching has also gone on simultaneously,                          and   some

                                    e n tified a s c o nt r ib ut ing   t o   t h e  p r o b lewmee . B o
                                                                                                        a y
                                                                                                          e s
                         b e e n id                                               c h o o
  ffraocmtorloswh-acvlaess back-groundsf wqeuraeliafieccdeptsetdaffiningth. e This resulte
                                                                                s         l,
               sa a general lack o
  tbhoethre inwsufficent practical, abasottrebnintgionengaangdemencouragement.
                                                                         ent to
                             lus t a s we ll a s
   csoomnetrogel ntehrealir discussions were mes on
                         t io n a n d s p ec c c o u n se ll in
                                                           ctiveg f o r t
                                                                        e h os e w h o h ad
                     t a
                                                  c o
                 e n
                                            is
               v
                                          T
  general p
  there was
            r
            a
              e
              la
  been molested w
                 c k
                   h en
                       o f  a
                           th ey
                                C
                                 w
                                  e
                                   e r e y o u n ge r .
                                                                                    u r t he r
   Additrehensive counselling program using devotee counsellors
                 n a l   s t e p s  a r e   p la n n e d    t o    p r e v e nt   f
              io
~— pcoromfpessional techniques will be implemoelentestdatiofonr will be- Pr gigi
   b o  y s .  G e n  e r a l  e d u c a ti o n   p r o g r a m s  e
                                                                     o
                                                                     w
                                                                       n a
                                                                           m
                                                                           d m  is s io n s  to :
 .implemencte                       v e r y   s tu d  e n  t.
                       d for etil improved vocational and gener N
    remain loasreed upunand running. Krodesvara dasa, former
    programs                                     u s  tr a  li a ,   w   ill   b e   jo  in
   New Nandagramwork exclusively on building the vocationa
                                farm     in    A
   onegramomn.thOtother staff for this program will be vigorousl
   paro
     s  we ll  a s  a du lt s ta ff   fo r  g e n e ra  l s u p e r v is io n .
                                                 a ti o n p ro b le m  s   b e t        ll t
    There were also some c
              t af f  a n d p a r eno m
                                     ts
                                        m
                                        .
                                           u
                                            Mnic
                                               eetings      w e re   h e  ld  w  it h a
   jun io r s                         a   jo in t m e eti n g .                 i
   the parents       a
                    lt
                      s
                        w
                          w e
                           it
                             ll
                              h
                                 as
                                  in  th e   s h o r t   te rm   it   se e m s  th  a t                            of
   have be e n d e a                                      g  s , a  n e w  th  in g   f o r
    is requeirnedagreed upon to try to resolve any long term problems
                .    R e gu  la r  P .T .A .   m e  e tin
   have be
    communication.
                                                   p ro g ra m s W ®  w il l  r e q u
                                                                                    t ir
                                                                                      ra e
                                                                                         in  |
                                                                                            in g e
                                                                                                 O e
    In o rd er to im
                   n
                     p
                     c
                      le
                       e
                         me n
                       outsid
                           fr
                              t
                              om
                                th
                                e  e
                                   s oaubroc ve
                                             e s ,  b o th   in  th e  fo r m   o f                               n .
   a   s s is  t a               e ll  a s    h e lp   to    im  p ro  v e  th e    s t a  f f in g   p o sit io
~“~the staff as w                                                                 s e n  t   to    th e  B o a rd   o f
                                        c  if ic   r e p o  rt   h a s   b e
   AEdduecatatiiloend aalonndg swpeith the Mayapur GBC zonal representatives.en
                                         to     h a v e  to    b e   th  e   b e a r e r   o  f  th e s e  k in  d  o f
    W    hilinegswe thaere gosoodrryside of it is that these thingsut hiatv.e Wcoemepratoy to
    tidht and we have been able to do something abo intain the purity
    liKrgishna that we will be able to increase and mags are required
    of th       e   g u r u k u la  h e re  ,   a n d   o f   c o u r s e  y o u r   b le  s  s in
     in this end -vour.

                       o w if th e re is a n y o th e r s e r v ic e th a t w e c a n d o
                 s k n
     Please let u ard to these matters.
     for you in reg
     Your servants,




     Bhaktividya Purna Swami                                       Naresvara dasa
     Principal                                                     co-director ISKCON Mayapur

 JUL
   viel lie    991


                   TO THE MAYAPUR GURUKULA BOARD OF EDUCATION


                Please accept our humble obeisances.                All glories to
Srila Prabhupada.

               Attach ed is   ou  r  re po rt  on the   ch ild  m ol es ta tio n
situatio     n at the  Ma ya pu r   Gu ru ku la.  Th is  re po rt is  no  t  me  an t fo r
public consumpt ion, bu t an ot he r re port base d on this sh ou ld be
prepared by your good selves, which can       be made public.

           This repo rt   m ay  al so   be   th e  ba si s   fo r  th e   re po rt
required to be submitt    ed   to  th e  Ma  ya pu  r G .B  .C .'s   an d  Bo ar d  of
Education.   As Ma yapur   is   an  In  te rn at  ion al   Pr oje  ct,    di rect  ly
under the G.B.C. Body   ,  pe  rhap s   yo u  w  ill  pr ep  ar e  a  ve  rsio n   to  be
Circulated       to   all   G.B.C.   members.

                                 ow if yo u re quir e an y fu rth er service
                Please let us kn
from   us.


               Your    servants,


                The Ad-Hoc Investigation Team.


               Tosan Krsna dasa                         Adikarta dasa



               Bhaktarupa dasa                          Dayarama dasa

No te: Th e Ma yapu r Gu rukula Board of Ed uc at ion l (M GB oE ) has
inserted the details of the actions taken.

                                      MAYAPUR GURUKULA CHILD MOLESTATION
                                         REPORT OF AD-HOC COMMITTEE
                                               11 JULY, 1991



              A.    SERIOUS           PERPETRATORS.


                   1)  e  p  e  e   ag ed 17 , in- ch ar ge of labor er s, tea cher of
              mantra chanting.   as abused when younger in Mayapur Gurukula.
                        Repeated incidents of homosexual attack of many boys of
              different ages.                 Threatened many boys.                   Encouraged other older
              boys to‘engage in similar activities.                                 Lied to investigators.
         TE
     MSSRS




              Was previously warned - did not stop.                                 Known as a bully
or




              throughout the Gurukula.                          Candrasekhera told many boys not to
              associate vith him.                    Was responsible for handling Gurukula funds
              - an investigation into possible embezzlement by him is
              recommended.
                       He was kept confined for 48 hours during investigation
              - eventually confessed to nearly everything. Was beaten with a
              stick by senior Bengali devotees during interrogation % not
              severely.   Pankajanghri Prabhu witnessed no marks on his body.
              Temple Administrative Council, in emergency session, voted to
              expel him from Mayapur, and did not recommend that he be engaged
              in   ISKCON work           elsewhere.


                      2)     pI aged 19, Abused several younger boys, threatened
              many boys.              Lied to investigators, but confessed immediately
              under threat of being beaten.                               Was not hit.
                                 He was kept confined for 48 hours during investigation.
              Temple Administrative Council, in emergency session, voted to
              expel    him       from Mayapur.

                    3)    [RRM aged 16.      Not present in Mayapur during
              investigation.    Several younger boys reported that he abused
              them.    Recommended that if he returns from his house, that he be
              kept separate from the Gurukula,                              and be immediately questioned
              about his involvement in these activities.

                        MGBoE Action: Will act as recomended, but we do not
              expect that he will return after hearing about what is going on.

                      4)                               aged         19    - work    in-charge      for many boys.
              Abused several             younger boys.  Threatened boys about talking to
              investigators.              Did not co-operate at first, was struck with a
              stick,       then       confessed.           Was      confined       overnight      during
              investigation.              Separated             from      Gurukula.       Since    then      kept   with
              brahmacaris.
                                 Recommend          that       he   not    return    to   Gurukula.          Also   if   he
              remains       in    Mayapur       his    presence            may   upset    some    of   his    victims,        so
              he   should        be    sent    to    another         temple      under    strong       leadership.


                                 MGBoE action: Arranging for him to be moved to another
              temple,       preferably with                a    strong      program.      Will    inform      authorities
              about    the       problem.

  :        5)         a. aged 12.                                Repeatedly abused two small boys.
 Did not         co-operate with                      investigation              and was       heavily slapped.
 First         confessed          to       abusing         the    small       boys,       then,     after       more
 Slapping,            reported that he had been abused by i and
 a
                      Recommend             that      he    be    sent       home.        It   is   doubtful         that      he
 will      be    able       to    control            himself       in      the     future.


                      MGBoE       action:            Sent    home       to    Jessore.         Informed         local
 temple         regarding             situation.


      :    6)        a, aged 12.                                   Repeatedly abused at a young age.
 Engaged         in    homosexual               activity         with        many    other       boys     his    age.
 During         investigation                  was    seen       threatening
 behalt of
                                                                                         the   small      boys    on

                       ecommend            he    be       sent   home.


                      MGBoE       action:            Pending       further          investigation.


           7)        a. aged 14.                           Repeatedly abused at a young age and
was       involved         with        many      other       boys.           Was    co-operative           with      the
 investigation.
                   Unlikely that he will be able to keep himself aloof
from      bad     association and from controlling his sexual urges.
                      Recommend            that       he    be    removed          from    the    community          -   not
just      sent        "home"          to   the       goshalla         where        his    devotee      parents           live.


                     MGBoE action: Arranging with his father to move him
away      to     live      with        relatives.


          8)         a,           aged 13.                 Repeatedly abused at a young age and
abused          smaller         boys       -    including         a    5    year     old.        Classroom       teacher
reports         that       he    is    of       sub-normal            intelligence.               Co-operated            with
investigation.
                     Recommend             unsuitable            for       the    Gurukula.


                     MGBoE action:                Same      as    7    above;        they are         brothers.

          9)         QM                     aged 10.             Abused smaller boys,                     including a
five      year       old.        Co-operated               with       the    investigation.               Questionable
whether         he    is    suitable             for      the    Gurukula.


                     MGBoE       action:          Sent      home      to     Jagannath Mandir.

10)       (RRM,        aged 14.                 Was abused by an older boy.                           Abused a
younger         boy.        At    first          he    lied      to   investigation,                was   slapped,
then      confessed.
                  Recommend                he   be     sent      home,       as    may    not    be   able      to
control         himself          in    the      current          situation.


                  MGBoE          action:         Sent       home.

11)       Devashish,             (devotee            at    Jagannatha             temple).          Fondled      about         8

                                                enga ged in an y IS KC O N te m p le ,
                   Recommend that heconntotrobe
boys      and attempted worse.
     |                                       l himself whenever he is near a
as he will not be able to
young       boy.


                   MGBoE action:       Sent away.

B.         SUSPECTED PERPETRATORS.
                                            Nama Hatta Devotee -                        A llegedly
           1)        addu, aged 90.
                   VDa se ve n year ol d to hi s ro om .                                          When the boy
repeatedly in vite d a
went in one time, the old man fondled him.                   g or st ay in g in
                   Recommend he be ba nn ed fro m vi si ti n
Mayapur.

                                 W ill en sure th at th e ab ov e re co mm enda tio n
                   MGBoE action:
is carried out by temple administration.
                                      ur uk ula he ad co ok . Ab us ed at a
           2)      ERM, aged 22a , wiGtness, aged 14, cone iyerng ty
young age. One small boy and                                                                                          by
reported that he fondled the small boy.                                  Dramatically denied
                        even under threat of stick.                                                                        -
es                                                                 re m ain s, he                                              be
             ecomm en d  th at  be ca us e su sp  icion s of   him
engaged els ew he re  in  Ma  yap ur.    Pe rha ps  he  sh ou ld ge t ma rri ed .

                   MGBoE action:       Moved out of Gurukula.

C.         MINOR    PERPETRATORS.


           1)      QE, aged 13.                       Saw sex films as a karmi.                             Fondled
another boy's backside.                    Previously reported and dealt with
satisfactorily.

     2)   GS, «aged 10.       Encouraged a 10 year old boy to
engage in mutual fondling.  Co-operative with investigation.
General education program may be sufficient for his
rectification.

                   MGBoE action:       Counselling begun.                    Parents               are    due    to
visit       next    month.    Will    discuss          the    desirability                   of    moving       the   boy
to       a more    structured    program          in      Vrindaban.


           3)      QR,           aged 15.             A     minor perpetrator.
                   Recommend    that       he    be    sent       to   the   temple               side.

                   MGBoE   action:     Moved          out    of    gurukula.


D.        VICTIMS      (ONLY)

           1)     QM,        aged 10.           Abused repeatedly by an older boy.
Lied       to   investigators        out    of    fear       of    other     bo       Ss :        Finall
admitted after considerable Slapping.                                             ‘
                   Recommend    that       he    receive          regular     s peciial             counsellin
                                                                                                            i
for at least five years.                    If this is not done,                        he may become a

perpetrator in the              future.

                   MGBoE action:        Sent home.

                  ae                     aged ll.    Abused repeatedly by seinve ral
          2)                             w ith in ve st ig at ion ev en af ter g
                                                                               be
older boys.             Co -o pe ra te d
threatened by older boys.                                                 un se ll in g
                                            e re g u la r s p e c ia l co
                   Recommend that he receiv
 for     at     least   five   years.

                   MGBoE action: Started counselling.

                  ee . aged 8.                                                rent
                                                     Fondled by several diffeat
          3))                                      Co-operated with investig    ion.
older boys and violated twice.                   tioning.
Appeared to be emotionally disturbed during quesfo r as long as
                   Recommend regular special counselling
necessary.



          4)
          5)
          6)
          7)
          8)

                   These boys were seriously victimized to one degree or
 another.          Regular counselling will be required for them as
 emotional damage is likely to be substantial.

          9)       PT aged 14.                      Seems to attract molesters.      He
 reported five or six incidents of boys approaching him.  Some
 rumour of his further involvement which was unsubstantiated.
           Recommend that he should definitely be sent home.

           MGBoE action: Requested parents to send ticket so that
 he can return to Australia.

 10)     ae.                            aged 12.    Has been the object of many
 rumored incidents, but also has reported incidents to Gurukula
 authorities regularly, Was not fully convincing in his claims of
 innocence and may be holding something back.
                   His father should speak to him and try to determine if
 anything remains hidden. Further counselling may also be
 necessary. His initial failure to co-operate is a matter of
 concern and should be dealt with strongly.
           MGBoE action: Started counselling. Main problem seems
 to be very bad attatude with autiorities. Problems seems to be
 that his father is one of the leaders in Mayapur and so he thinks
 that he can do as he pleases and get away with it.

 11)     ee aged 11
 12)                           aged 12
*1'3))                      aged   12                 :
 14)                        aged 12

15)    ME,      aged 14

             These boys reported fondling, attempted fondling, or
attempted abuse by a devotee from Jagannatha Temple.           No special
counse llin g req uired - the y see med to be we ll adj ust ed in the se
matters.


16) —ERNNMM, aged 10. Minor incident of mutual fondling
ini tia ted by boy of sam e age . As he als o did not rep ort som e
thievery that he witnessed, he seems to be lacking in
discriminatory ability.        Some special counselling would be good.
             MGBoE action:    Started counselling.

E.     UNCONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS


       1)    QM, aged 15.             Many alleged illicit connections.
He was not willing to speak truthfully to investigators
initially,    then left Mayapur before allegations could be fully
investigated


Recommendation:           (Adikarta and Bhaktarupa)    - Gurukula
administration should seriously weigh the benefits he might gain
from continued Gurukula enrollment,          versus the possible
contamination he may bring to the other boys.

Recommendation:           (Doyarama) - He should not be allowed to come
back   to Mayapur.

          MGBoE action: It seems that he may not return. Request
Bhakticaru Swami to talk to him before making final decision.

       2)
       3)

             These boys are frequently seen together, and a few
rumors were circulating about them.          The rumors appeared to the
investigators as unsubstantial.

     4)   EMM. aged 14, monitor for small boy's ashram.             Some
rumors about him, but not substantiated. Many students
complained about his violent nature, so the staff should be
particularly vigilant that this nature does not manifest in ways
har mf ul to the ch ild ren. His po sit ion as mo nit or of sm all boy s
after only one year as a devotee seems a little ambitious, in
spite of his obvious external qualifications.
             MGBoE action: Service changed.

      5)  QM aged 11.         some minor allegation, not
confirmed. Was slapped during investigation.

                                         ,

F. | MISCELLANEOUS
                          e d  1 5 .   N o  a ll e ga t io n s   a g ain  st   h im ,   b u t
     1 ) p     e      daeg  d ur in  g in  v e s tig a t ion s .    W a s   c h a st is e d .
unco-operative attitu                                             to tem ple .
                MGBo E a c t io n : Mo ve d fr o m g u r u k u la
                                   1 9  .   W  a s  a bu s e d  w  h e n   y o u n ge r .   N o r e c e n t
      2 )  a          .  a g e dx u a l   a c t iv it ie s ,   b u t   d u e   to   la c  k o f p r o p e r
       tions ndof enhgoamgement, confessed that he was going to movies
allegatio                 o s e
direc n a           There was an ol
regularly.
                          s c r ip tu r a l k n o wle dge no
girl.      Marked lack of
                                                                                  e d e v e lo p e d
standing student.                                        structured p ro
                Recommended that a maosre his associa tion may not be so
                                                                         g ra m b
fot h im o u ts id e the G u ru k u la ,
beneficial for the boys.

under strict authority.                   Perhaps som
Mayapur would agree to engage him.                           4H
temple side in a loose department.
                                  n :  S e r v ic e  ch an g e d to g u ru k u la   k it c h e n .
              M G B o E  a c ti o                   p ed  o u t. To b e  w a tc h e d   fo  r
struc tr u ed  p ro  g ra m   h ad    be e n  m  ap
                                                                                         A L L
developments.

                  T E R V IE W E D W HO A PPE A R E D TO B E C O MP LE T E LY C L E AONF
G.       BOY S IN
INVOLVEMENT OR ALLEGATION.,




                      R VIEW E D ; N O AL L E G A T IO N S .
 H.     BOYS NOT INTE



                             er e co ns id er ed by teh M GB oE to be not
 NOTE: A few other boys who w
                      u ru ku la ha ve a lsen moved out.
                                            o be
 suitab le fo r the g

  APPENDIX     A:

            ee sar a rece ived via Gou r Gov in da Swam i/S ri Ra ma from
  Answer to


  Incident #1           Devashish - confirmed, devotee to be sent away.
  Incident #2           Verified to have been yy - already expelled
  from   Mayapur                                                         A
  Incident #3           EE               cemembers the incident but denies
  locking the door, in any way restricting the movement of the boy,
  on threatening        him sexually or otherwise.       We are recommending
  that —                      shifted to the temple side or another ISKCON
  centre.



  APPENDIX     B:


  General      comments   about   the   Investigation:


         1)      The abusive activity was so widespread,        the atmosphere
  so surcharged with threats to the boys,            and the need to satisfy
  the parents and community members that strong action would be
  taken was so great, that the investigation was done very quickly.
  (The report was completed within six days of the formation of the
  investigation team.)  While we feel that the investigation is
  basically complete, some small details should be pursued in the
  future by the Gurukula administration, as noted.  The possibility
  of error should also be noted,            and we apologize for any we may
  have made.        :

_ ee,            The staff of the school co-operated with the
  investigation.  However, the general attitude of the staff
  towards the investigation was disturbing.  Many seemed to be
  down-playing its importance. ~Many have, as yet, failed to accept
  that they were neglectful in not preventing the occurances.  Many
  have failed to demonstrate that they have honest feelings of
  sympathy for the abused small children.

         33)     The Chairman of the Mayapur Administrative Council,
TMSatadhanya Dasa, openly spoke, on at least two occasions during
   the investigation, that he thought that too much was being made
   of the investigation and that these activities were normal in a
   boy's school.  This attitude may be more widespread.  Discussions
  should be held by the Gurukula staff and the G.B.C. Committee as
  to how to eliminate this attitude, because it is extremely
  dangerous when held by any ISKCON authority.

         4)      The notes taken during the investigation are very
  sketchy,      and the investigators memory of the interviews was the
  main source of the report.            Due to the sheer volume of the
  activity, to make a proper report with extensive details would be
  an administrative task beyond our capabilities.  The Gurukula
  staff should note that one of the benefits of the investigation

                              af fe ct ed child ren w ill be p ar ti al ly
 for future dealings with the       ediately processed into a
 lost unless the notes can be imm
 complete investigation report.


 APPENDIX     C:


- Other recommendations

                                that whe n the y re port ed in ci de n ts to
=—=—    1)     Some boys stated
 the school authorities they were punished along wi th                         the      '
 perpetrators of those incidents.                  This was especially true if the
 incide  nt   led  to  a  ph  ys ical   fig ht  be  tw een  the    bo ys.    In   at   least
 two case    s, fu tu re  inc ide  nt s  ex pe rie  nc ed  by   the se   bo ys  we  re  no t
 reported ou     t of  fea r   of  pu nis hm en  t.    Di sc ipl in ar y  po  lic ies   mu st
 be  str uc tur ed  in   suc h  a  wa y  as  to   enc  ou rag e  rep ort  ing   of   se xu  all y
 related     incidents.


        2)     Admission po lic ie s mu st also be stru ctured to m ini m ise
 the number of high risk new students (i.e. those who may be
 per pet rat ors or who wi ll not be imm une to [or immuni zea ble from]
 becoming involved.  Factors contributing to high risk in new
 students would be: older boys, boys from lower economic
 backgrounds or broken homes, boys not academically inclined,
emotionally        disturbed     boys   etc.