Dear Editor,
It was a solemn afternoon as mourners flocked the Grace Funeral Home on Conduit and Pitkin Ave in Queens on Tuesday, June 16, to view the body of a great spiritual and academic leader – Shri Prakash Gossai.
The demise of Shri Prakashji, or Guruji, as he is fondly called by his disciples, brought shock to many around the world. Many would have loved to come to New York to pay their final respects to this great Hindu icon, but many challenges prevented them from doing so.
At the funeral home devotees sang religious songs, while many mourners carried a somber expression as they joined the line to view the body. They openly expressed their disbelief that he was so young when he died. They said he was a great man, and they would miss his singing and presence at the mandir, etc.
His children and other family members sat quietly in front of the funeral home as they recollected what an extraordinary man he was for them and the Hindu world. Many pundits, including Pt Rajin Balgobin were present, and they remembered what Shri Prakash Gossai had accomplished as a great ambassador for Hinduism.
Popular Muslim missionary Haji Jakir echoed the call for unity among the religious denominations.
He said Shri Prakash Gossai was a true friend and brother to him as both of them would grace each other’s religious celebrations, and he would like to see his legacy live on.
Television sets were mounted on the walls of different chapels to broadcast the proceedings as hundreds of people continued to arrive at the funeral home.
Yours faithfully,
Danny Basil
