Prabhupada, October 31, 1976, Vrndavana: Management that is in your hands. You have to… Who will give you management? You have to manage local, local men. Bon Maharaja was failure that he could not get the local men. But I did not try to bring men from India and preach in England or America.
Devotee: Hm.
Prabhupada: How is it possible? The British Empire was established on management. They did not bring men from England. Few managers, that’s all. That is called management. One man can control hundreds and thousands of men, that is management.
Locally attracted. These Britishers came here and they introduced this zamindari system.
Hamsaduta: The what?
Prabhupada: Zamindari system.
Hamsaduta: Zamindar.
Prabhupada: Landlord.
Hamsaduta: Yes.
Prabhupada: So any third class man, if he’s given some land, naturally he will be very much pleased. They created that aristocracy. So he selected some men that you give me four annas (16 annas = 1 rupee) per bigha (1bigha=2.603,7 m²) and what ever you can collect that is your… That is the old system in India, zamindari system. So collector, collector, the local collector, he appointed somebody. They used to give one lease, that you give government four annas per bigha, and whatever you can collect, that is your business. So that created an aristocratic society and they all supported Britishers, because they’re obliged.
Hamsaduta: Yes.
Prabhupada: Similarly in business also, they appointed brokers, that I am bringing cloth from Manchester and if you can sell you’ll get so much commission. So without any investment…
Hamsaduta: They were in business.
Prabhupada: A broker club business. So the businessmen, the zamindars, and gradually they started their factories, railways, in this way they started. And they are big politicians, so it is their management. And they failed when things were mismanaged. First of all they created friendship, and later on when they were in power, they created enmity. Then it is failed.
Devotee: Hm.
Prabhupada: First of all friendship, and that established them. And then they began to create enmity. Hindus against Muslim, Muslim… They wanted to stay. When they forgot this idea that if they wanted to stay for the benefit of the people, nobody could drive them away. But their policy was for the benefit of the English people. Therefore they failed. Lord Curzon, he says a statement that, “If you want to stay in India, rule India for the benefit of Indian people. You can keep control over India. They are fond of kings, so one member of the royal family can become king here and they’ll earn respect and honor from these Indian people. But rule for their benefit. Then British Empire will stay.” Very good advice, but his advice was not taken. You have seen Lord Curzon’s statue near the, in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall?
Hamsaduta: Hm.
Prabhupada: He was a very good governor-general. Many gentlemen came, they wrote very conscientiously and the last one, that rascal Chelmsford (chuckles), he created havoc.
Hari-sauri: Hm.
Prabhupada: I saw in London… Near London there is a village, Chelmsford, and he is Lord Chelmsford. We thought Chelmsford, the big state. (laughter) We were under the impression, Thames River is four times bigger than Ganges and (laughter) it is a canal. When I saw it, it is nothing but a canal. But they advertise this river, very big river. And underneath the water, men are going, and upper and wonderful. Big Ben, that Big Ben advertisement.
Hamsaduta: Yeah.
Prabhupada: Parliament. All photograph (laughter) actually. Downing Street, 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister’s office and so on. And actually it’s all (chuckles) no importance. Parliament, big, big advertisement. People are still going, they are paying fees to see.
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