In Pune we began the ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF) in January 1996. Over a period of time the students coming to the IYF are multiplying in geometric progression.  Many students are really keen to learn about spiritual life but they are unable to come to the temple because the colleges are situated far away. To create a facility for the boys to practice Krishna consciousness near their colleges we came up with the idea of making a Bhaktivedanta Student Library (BSL).

Need For the BSL

Over a period of time we had groups of devotee boys staying together in a room or flat nearby their college. In their rooms they would conduct a morning program and weekly preaching programs. There were two difficulties:

• The students would pass out and
• Every semester the students would have to change their rooms or flats.

Therefore we had no permanent youth center near a college where the students could come and identify with the IYF and render services.

In Pune there are many engineering colleges and we wanted a group of about 50 students per college who are strongly practicing and preaching the message of Krishna consciousness. They will live in apartments close to the college and the BSL, which will have all facilities for youth preaching, and will serve as a mini IYF center.

Concept of the BSL

The BSL will act as a mouthpiece of the IYF headquarters at the temple. The BSL will have the following facilities/activities:

There should be atleast 4 rooms in the BSL, for office, conference room, kitchen and living room/ storeroom along with sufficient toilets and bathing facilities.