I do not recall the year(s), in which these memories were recorded.  However, after taking control of the GBC in 1977, the first major project ,of the unscrupulous, some evils or wicked, unauthorized zonal acaryas, was their commissioning of the “authorized” biography of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, commonly known as the “Lilamrta”. A great deal of money was made available by the BBT to send researchers all around the world, taping and transcribing interviews, so that Satsvarupa dasa Goswami Maharaja, the GBC’s official zonal acarya spokesman, could present his conception of Srila Prabhupada’s life. These transcripts, present in this work, which were supposed to be used in the writing of Prabhupada’s Lilamrta, were marked with a Code 81 to 86 (the last 6 month, June to November 1977). 

One of the interviewers, Kundali Dasa, and the most prolific essay writer for the BTG; knowing that these transcripts were “Not Going To Be Used” by Satsvarupa: decided he was going to eventually write a book, “Srila Prabhupada Antya-lila; His Last Six Month”.  Before he departed to go and live in Vrindavana India, he copied the transcripts marked 81 to 86 from the file-cabinet room, which contained all the tapes and their transcriptions,. All Transcripts and Tapes (Codes 1 to 86), were Subsequently Completely Destroyed in a Mysterious Fire?????????; of that File-Cabinet Room.

It is a long story that you can read in the “Introduction” of this work, where you will learn how I, Upendranath Dasa, came into the possession of an Indian metal trunk containing these transcripts marked 81 through 86.  Some had the name of the interviewer, and some were only identified with the word “Interviewer”.  However, in all the transcripts, the person being interviewed was clearly identified.

I studied the book by Sol Stein, “Stein On Writing”: He was a Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century.  He was the prime editor for the famous writer Earnest Hemingway.  I his book he Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies.  “Stein on Writing”, provides immediately useful advice for all writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether they are newcomers or old hands, students or instructors, amateurs or professionals. As the always clear and direct Stein explains:

“This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions–how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place.”

With examples from bestsellers as well as from students’ drafts, Stein offers detailed sections on characterization, dialogue, pacing, flashbacks, trimming away flabby wording, the so-called “triage” method of revision, using the techniques of fiction to enliven nonfiction, and more.

To the best of my ability, I have tried to incorporated what I learned from this book, in writing the “Srila Prabhupada Antya-lila”.  Anyone, desiring scans of these copies of the ordinal transcripts, can contact me at updindia@gmail.com, and I will send you all of these transcripts. From these scans you will see why I have been working on this project for so long.  I will probably post some copies of these Transcripts, in the Introduction, anyways.

Also, I could use some assistance in the completing the posting of this work.  I have only posted less than 1/4 (one-fort) to the website as of the writing of this brief.