About this project

Who are we?

Our team presently is Kar (Kartamasa Das Delaney) and Radha (Radhakunda Fournier).

Kar

Born in Denver in 1977 to the puppeteer Radha Damodara and lifelong educator Nataka Candrika, Kar’s roots in the society run deep. His early education took him through the full landscape of the movement’s history: from the Los Angeles nursery in 1979 and the one-room schoolhouse in Denver to Bhaktivedanta Village and the Vancouver Gurukula.

After completing his public schooling in Alachua, Florida, Kar earned a Master’s in Community Development from the University of Florida. His thesis focused on Saranagati Village, a remote off-grid community in Canada. It was there that he met his wife, Radha, and connected with his lifelong mentor, Yamuna Devi.

Though he briefly worked as a social worker, a stint helping his mother at the Alachua Gurukula ignited a realization: the future of the culture lay in investing in its youth. He has now been teaching for over 20 years. In 2009, he and Radha founded Govardhana Academy, which they continue to lead today.

Kar is deeply committed to cultural preservation, Vaisnava history, and archiving the spiritual legacies of the pioneer generation. When not teaching or writing, he can be found exploring Vedic arts, playing music, or on the ice playing hockey.

Radha

Born in Ottawa in 1983, Radha grew up in a family dedicated to service. She is the daughter of Ghosh Thakura, who served as an ashram teacher, and Girija, who was widely cherished as a "mother to all." Her childhood was a journey through many of ISKCON’s historic communities, attending gurukulas in Lake Huntington, Gita Nagari, and Alachua, as well as spending time in Montreal before her family settled in the off-grid community of Saranagati.

After marrying Kar, Radha pursued her university studies and gained hands-on experience teaching at the Bhaktivedanta Academy in Alachua. Eventually, the couple returned to Saranagati to establish their own school, Govardhana Academy, where she continues to shape the curriculum and culture today.

Radha is a creative force in the community. Beyond the classroom, she is passionate about theater, festivals, and event planning. Her artistry extends to deity sewing and crafts, while her connection to the land is expressed through gardening and beekeeping.

Who else?

Since time is of the essence, we hope to expand this team to anyone who can help! 

Background

We have always had a deep affinity for sociological and historical projects that foster empathy and understanding within our society. For five years, we taught Sociology and ISKCON History at Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh. We also facilitated a local project where senior devotees were invited to share their stories and wisdom with our youth group. We were moved by the deepening relationships that formed between the two generations and the heartfelt advice that was transmitted.

Now, we feel a renewed sense of personal urgency. Having already lost too many of our 'brothers and sisters,' and recognizing the passage of time, we felt it was critical to launch this oral history project for the legendary first generation of gurukulis. Our goal is to utilize technology to bridge the distance, gathering these essential stories before they are lost.

Our objectives

• Preserve the Legacy: To gather as many personal accounts as possible, ensuring the first generation is authentically understood by posterity.

• Share Wisdom: To create a bridge for passing on hard-won lessons and advice to future generations of devotees.

• Remove Barriers: To make sharing easy by accepting submissions in any format—text, audio, or video—directly through this site.

• Inspire Local Action: To encourage friends in communities worldwide to take the initiative by conducting in-person interviews, hosting focus groups, or facilitating speaking opportunities.