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Today, Thurs. Aug. 7, 1997 Brahmachari will make a presentation Friday at Beems Auditorium in the Cedar Rapids Public Library beginning at 7 p.m. Gallo, a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital, traveled to India for two weeks in November. There she met Brahmachari, a Hindu monk, and volunteered with one of his mission projects in the jungle village of the Sunderban, south of Calcutta. "He has a holy presence," said Gallo, a Christian. "He radiates joy. You feel that just by entering the room he’s in." Brahmachari’s mission in 160 remote villages and 35 slums of Calcutta strive to reverse the underlying causes of poverty, says Cedar Rapids oncologist and Lokenath supporter Chirantan Ghosh. During her stay, Gallo signed on with one of the mission’s mobile health clinics, which uses homeopathic medicines to treat more than 130,000 people each year. Gallo traveled over bumpy, dusty roads in an aging Jeep before reaching villages 1Hour and 30 munites south of Calcutta. Each day, a physician and Gallo stopped at a predetermined spot where those seeking medical attention waited in line. Care and medicines were dispensed outdoors. "We saw 95 patients each day," Gallo said. "They are so remote (that) if the Jeep didn’t go out provide medical care, nobody would." The Lokenath Divine Life Mission, which funds the free mobile clinics, is directed by Brahmachari Gallo refers to him as "Swami," a Hindu holy man. Formerly a professor of commerce at the University of Hyderbad, Brahmachari left that work in 1976 to enter religious life. He began the mission in 1985. The mission established schools, farm projects and women’s groups in addition to the free clinics. "Materials for schools are donated," Gallo said, "and (villagers) build the schools. They hire a teacher of whatever religion that village is. For moms they teach health and nutrition." In the Kalighat area of Calcutta, "street schools" offer a noon meal, clothing and education. The mission also helps groups of women establish cottage industries, which bring money into their families and community. "Women are given looms so they can weave cloth to sell," Gallo said. Selling cloth replaces the often-contaminated homemade liquor the women once sold. Famer clubs teach the latest organic farming methods. The mission digs wells to provide clean water and to develop irrigation systems that extend the growing season. Gallo hopes to return to India and the work of the mission. For now, she will be satisfied to renew her acquaintance with Brahmachari when he is in Ceder Rapids.
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