A BAPS youth as "Youth Governor of Illinois State"

Sunday 17 March 2002, Chicago, IL

It is a glorious moment for BAPS worldwide that due to the grace of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, one of our zealous youth devotee Tarun Harish Patel was elected the Youth Governor for State of Illinois.

This was under the auspices of the Youth & Government Program. He was elected by nearly 610 of the 1000 candidates. Tarun is the First Asian, First Indian, First Hindu in a predominantly white catholic program to be elected thus. He is also the first from the Waubonsie Valley High School. This program is open to all High School students of the Sate of Illinois. Tarun has been a member since his freshman year. Last year he was nominated as a State Senator.

As a Governor for 3 days (March 15-16-17, 2002) he was literally using the Governor's desk, chair and office etc. Here he enacted, signed or rejected bills that were put up by the youth government. Mock laws under real make-believe conditions. He increased the pride of his school and teachers, who are really very excited for him. The staff was fascinated to see a youth with tilak-chandlo-kanthi elected as a youth governor with such popularity. He was accomodated as a special VIP at the Executive suite at the Crowne Plaza in state capital Springfield.

Of course, upon arrival at home, he is back to his duties as an ardent volunteer of BAPS Bal-Kishore Mandal, Chicago! Since childhood, he has been a very enthusiastic member of Satsang. He has many talents - ranging from dance and drama to oratory and writing - that he regularly utilizes for Satsang. As an active member of BAPS Bal Mandal Cell in North America, Tarun contributes his time, talents and resources for the progress of children's activities. Pramukh Swami Maharaj always enjoys the jolly enactment and presentations done by Tarun.

We all wish that with Swamiji's blessings Tarun becomes a head of government and serves the Satsang in various ways.