Who Are Kulis?

Who are Kulis?

Originally the term ‘Kuli’ related to those youth who attended a school called ‘Gurukula’ that was part of a traditional Indian Vaishnava movement started by Srila Prabhupada in Western countries. Over the years this term has grown to cover any second and third generation youth related to Srila Prabhupada’s movement although its meaning has grown somewhat ambiguous and unclear. Most of the traditional Gurukula schools have disappeared so younger Kulis don’t have the Gurukula background, whilst many of those ‘original’ Kulis are no longer ‘youth’.

To some extent, this ambiguity has also reflected the uncertainty many Kulis have felt in their relationship with each other and perhaps to a greater extent, the spiritual movement that is behind it all. The Kulimela concept is at heart therefore, an attempt to discover who Kulis are and what we stand for (if anything at all).

In the first Kulimela event held in New Vrindavan, it was proposed that Kuli refers to ‘servant’, following its literal Hindi meaning but in the mood of service and support for one another closer to the Vaishnava tradition. In the Alachua Kulimela, the term Kuli expanded to become an acronym for some of the ideals and goals that might tie us together:

Krishna (Consciousness)
Unity
(Balanced) Lifestyle
Inspiration

Whilst embracing the ideas of both New Vrindavan and Alachua, the exploration continues with the Radhadesh Kulimela, which has a strong emphasis on the inclusion of friends, family and other persons that are related, feel connected or somehow attracted to the Kuli community. The Kuli community must be inclusive, not exclusive. This exploration already began with Moscow Kulimela in 2007, which as well as strongly involving the support and participation of the wider Nama Hatta Vaishnava communities has also created a closer link between Eastern Europe/Russia and the Western Kuli groups.

Los Angeles, Kulimela, on the other hand, which is set for the summer of 2009, intends to explore the roots of Kuli history, the founders of the first Kuli reunions and original Kuli pioneers by celebrating 20 years since the first official Kuli reunion, which was held in LA in 1989.

Our hope is to find a unified purpose, which can respect and promote diversity within unity; one that crosses all political, sectarian and religious divisions, being based on principles of love, service and the search for inner spiritual understanding; and exemplified in our lives through practical and positive actions which benefit our families, friends, communities and society at large. Our strength and thus our success lies in our ability to work with and serve each other, whilst respecting our individual choices and paths.