Bhaktivedanta Archives Numbering System Fiasco
Pratyatosa Dasa ACBSP
Thank you very much for taking time from your busy schedule to reply to some of my questions.
You stated:
"Nitya tripa forwarded to me an e-mail from you stating that I falsely claim to have started the BTM when in fact you did."
Then you go on to demonstrate that you already admitted that I was the one who started the BTM (the Bhaktivedanta Tape Ministry).
That doesn't change the fact that it was like pulling teeth trying to get you to admit it. It took years. I finally had to go through the official ISKCON mediation department. It required many emails back and forth. I even had to dig up a picture of Srila Prabhupada giving class, a picture which clearly shows the "BTM" Dymo Label Maker sticker that I had created and placed on the microphone. It was the microphone that I had given, in 1973, to Srutakirti Prabhu to carry with him all over the world to record Srila Prabhupada.
The whole point of that email that Nitya-Trpa forwarded to you was to prove that the original cassette tape numbering system that I started in 1971 was superior and that it could easily accommodate recordings of unknown time and place. The trouble is, you switched to a new, extremely rigid numbering system which does not have any such provision. You switched numbering systems without consulting with me, Krsnakanti Prabhu or any of the hundreds (thousands?) of devotees who could no longer tell which tapes they already had or didn't have!
When my wife complained (to you?) about it, she was met with indifference and disrespectful sarcasm, and I felt helpless to protect her, because everywhere within ISKCON, after Srila Prabhupada's vapu form had left us, there was a "my way or the highway" mentality.
The very least that you could have done was to provide the former BTM customers with an old vs. new numbering system cross-reference list, but you didn't even bother to do that! :-(
In any case, how do you plan to accommodate the unknown time and place tapes using the current numbering system?
Your servant, Pratyatosa Dasa
---------- Forwarded (with permission) ----------
From: Nitya-Trpta <nitya-tr...@pamho.net>
Date: Tue, Apr 6, 2010 at 6:01 PM
Subject: Reply from Parama-rupa
To: Pratyatosa Dasa ACBSP <praty...@gmail.com>Dandavats,
Jai Srila Prabhupada!Since I am secretary, I get to do all this stuff. So Parama-rupa asked me to send this directly to you, not the forum.Your ServantNitya-Trpta d.d.Dear Pratyatosha Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
I am writing to you off the “list” in reply to your questions that Nitya-tripta passed on to me.
“So I assume that he admits that editing Srila Prabhupada's lectures was a mistake, right?”
You and I have had this discussion before about the new BTM and in those discussions I have made it clear that I was never told about Srila Prabhupada’s comment about editing until you contacted me back in the late 1990’s. So it would be a little unfair to say that I made a mistake when I was told by the BBT mail order department to make the programs fit a time frame (cassette length) because of the cost factor and only having a few subscribers. If you are asking do I wish that I didn’t have to edit then the answer is “YES”.
“You sell them on CDs or DVDs at a reasonable price, I'll buy a copy, and then I'll make them available as free downloads. Is it a deal? :-)”
Like I said before we will have to see how this all pans out. Selling is one option, Internet is another. Our focus right now is getting it done.
Also, Nitya tripa forwarded to me an e-mail from you stating that I falsely claim to have started the BTM when in fact you did. We have also had this discussion a few times before so lets put all this behind us please once and for all. Just to refresh our memories here is an exchange about this from 2005;
Braja Bhihari
1. No problem getting credit for starting the BTM.
PR:
We have no Problem saying he was the first to use the name BTM. Hence why we always referred to the BTM "as we know it today since 1977". As stated in our previous e-mail which we believe he appreciates.
From e-mail of Wednesday, May 11, 2005. The Bhaktivedanta Archives once being told of the situation by Pratyatosa dasa many years ago have been most careful not to claim that we started the BTM but rather state that Parama-rupa dasa started the new BTM for the BBT mail order department as seen today with label and announcement by Parama-rupa dasa. Having said that we have no problem restating this to any and all, that Pratyatosa dasa started a BTM before 1977.
And further to this point from an e-mail excerpt received from Pratyatosa about this specific issue.
From e-mail of Thursday, February 24, 2005 PR; Yes, you have told me before about your audio exploits (didn't know many details about pre 1972 however) and about you using the name BTM... you sent me a photo of a mic with BTM on it.
Prat; Really? When? I don't remember. Must be getting senile. :)
PR; Since noting your history those many years ago, I have always been careful to say that the BTM as we know it today, (with BTM label and my voice on the introduction) is the incarnation from 1977 on and not before.
Prat; Thank you very much Prabhu. I appreciate that.Once again Prabhu I’m writing this off the list so as not to make anyone feel embarrassed, but as an attempt to graciously move forward. We are extremely busy here working at what we have always dreamed of…. Finally, Archiving unencumbered by other peripheral matters.
I trust this answers a few of the items; I thank you for your time in this regard
Respectfully yours
Parama-rupa dasa