I am always saddened by the news of another devotee leaving their body, but gladdened by their onward journey. Kamsahanta Prabhu has moved onward, no doubt continuing to assist Srila Prabhupada in his mission.
Keith Haslam / Kamsahanta Das ACBSP
Born March 23, 1941 Bolton, Lancashire, U.K.
He became a graphic artist and cartoonist. He worked as an apprentice at a Manchester newspaper. He then encouraged his family to move to Fowey, Cornwall, which they did and he immigrated to Canada in his twenties. He held a job as an art director in advertising in Toronto, Canada. His search for deeper knowledge made him leave the security of money to roam the U.S.A. and travel across Canada which led him to meet his soon to be wife Lokadrsti devi dasi, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. In 1971 there at a health food store he purchased a book called “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He realized when reading this book, his search and questions were answered. On a journey to Indonesia in 1973 there was a stop in the U.K. where he met his spiritual master this is when he decided to go back to Toronto and dedicate his life to this mission of obtaining and sharing this knowledge.
He received the name Kamsahanta Das in April 1973 in Toronto, Canada
Here are some of his accomplishments:
Distributing thousands of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
In early 1973, he brought into this world his beautiful daughter Sri Gandhari who became his princess.
In 1974 he assisted at the preaching center at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada .
The family got sent back to Toronto in 1975 where he oversaw the design and construction of the altar on Avenue Road.
In 1977 was the birth of his son Namacharya who he always adored.
Beginning of 1978 spent some time in the U.S.A at New Vrindaban, West Viriginia, U.S.A assisting in some artistic work on the Palace of Gold.
In the later of 1978 he served in the development of the interior at The London Soho Street temple in the U.K.
In 1979 at Southampton, U.K. he oversaw the construction of the travelling temple complete with Italian marble, gold leaf, Canadian mahogany for the temple room, stainless steel kitchen and showers, hi-fi equipment, mobile generator and mood lighting system.
1980 collected funds and oversaw the temple room and various projects in the development of the project called Chaitanya College which was to house our school.
In 1984 he then got sent to help oversee the completion of the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath temple in Durban, South Africa. At Muldersdrift near Johannesburg he also collected and trained many devotees for making income for this project.
He took it upon himself to preach this message in Zululand, Natal and opening a center there which included book distribution, food distribution, harinam and preaching at the Zululand University. The chief of Kwazulu even offered land for distributing this message but with young children this was not possible.
In 1989 he is back in the U.K.
In 1990 he successfully entered China with books and made many devotees which was very difficult at that time.
Then in 1994 moved to New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA arriving for the birth of his grandson Marcus (Airavata).
He continued preaching travelling into China.
In 2007 he moved back to the U.K. due to separation from wife.
Continuing through the years always being loyal to Srila Prabhupada and spreading his message and distributing books to whoever he met.
His heart and life mission, was his loyalty to his spiritual master A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Prayers for his transition with the blessings of all the Vaisnavas.
May his mission continue with Srila Prabhupada always guiding him.
The Hare Krishna Movement 