feb 10 1977 Conversations
Jayapatākā: There’s one good news, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Gargamuni called last night. Mahendra had informed him that we’re going to have our 747 jumbo jet land in Calcutta.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Jayapatākā: It will be the first commercial flight. They have 310 people coming on the flight.
Prabhupāda: So the government will receive.
Jayapatākā: Then the government will receive them. It will be publicized all over India.
Prabhupāda: Very good. When they are coming?
Jayapatākā: I’m going to call again today to find exact date. About 24th, 25th.
Prabhupāda: What is the date today?
Bhavānanda: 11th.
Note-I was on that flight, along with some 310 devotees as he mentions above. It was a
“devotee flight only”. No karmis were on that plane, which meant we could do whatever we wanted, sleep anywhere, do kirtan when we wanted, go to the upper deck, eat what and when we wanted…etc
And when we landed in Calcutta, the press did not know it was only Hare Krsna devotees coming in on this flight of this 747 jumbo jet for the first time to India. So more good publicity for our movement at that time. I remember Mahendra saying he booked the entire plane just for devotees. I think everyone on the ground was very surprised when only Hare Krsna devotees came out of that plane.
It felt like we were ambassadors to their country arriving in style on the first 747 jet. I think Krsna arranged all this…..when has anybody ever seen an entire plane filled with Hare Krsna devotees, and doing kirtan down the aisles? One devotee told me recently, the captain came out of the cockpit , with raised arms, did a little jig to the kirtan then asked the devotees not to run up and down the aisles because it made it difficult for him to fly the plane ! It was wobbling all around. Even the plane was in ecstasy……
damaghosa das