“Jackson promised him that he would read the book the same evening...”

— RAMESH KALLIDAI
     On meeting with Jackson

CHAKRA (London, U.K.) - August 22, 1999: Romapada dasa from Bhaktivedanta Manor presented Steven Rosen’s book, Vedic Archealogy to Michael Jackson during a private visit to London in July.

Jackson, a devout Christian, was attending a business meeting with Mr. Srichand P. Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group of Companies and a major supporter of ISKCON.

As soon as Romapada dasa, who is Mr. Hinduja’s Executive Assistant, handed the book, Jackson opened it and saw an article titled “Did Jesus Christ visit India?” He said that he had always wanted to know whether Christ had visited India and would read the article. Miss Vinoo Hinduja, Srichand Hinduja’s daughter informed Jackson that the birth of Jesus Christ had been predicted in the Vedic scriptures.

While Jackson continued to express interest in the book, Mr. Hinduja told him that Romapada dasa was a Vedic scholar and had handpicked the book especially for Jackson and urged him to read the whole book. Jackson promised him that he would read the book the same evening.

“I had gone to the ISKCON London temple at Soho Street to pick up some CDs for Jackson since I thought he might be interested in music,” reports Romapada dasa. “The shop in the temple did not have the CDs, and so I went back to the office for the meeting with him, feeling quite dejected. But I found the book, Vedic Archeology on my bookshelf in the office and decided to present it to Jackson. I had no idea he was such a devout Christian. His appreciation for the book made me sure that Lord Krishna arranged it so that he could get this book.”

© CHAKRA 22-Aug-99

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