| Ramai Swami was born in Alexandria, Egypt, grew up in Australia, and studied music at RMIT (the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology). He came in contact with ISKCON by reading a Back To Godhead magazine belonging to a friend from the university. His interest in the spiritual content was awakened and he began to associate with devotees regularly. After some time he joined as a full time member and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in Melbourne in 1973. Ramai Swami spent his formative years in ISKCON in the Brisbane and Melbourne temples, and later headed bus programs, traveling to cities and towns and sharing Krishna consciousness all over the Australian continent. He took sannyasa vows in Mayapur, India, in 1982. A big contributor to Australasia through his kirtans and classes, he is appreciated by many for his amiable nature.
Ramai Swami’s background in leadership began as vice temple president in Auckland from 1974 to 1976 and continued as temple president in Adelaide, Melbourne, and the New Govardhana Farming Community from 1976 to 1986. He acted as Regional Secretary in Queensland from 1983 to 1986. After another stint on the Traveling Bus Program from 1986 to 1990, Ramai Swami became temple president in Sydney from, 1990 to 1992, and at the same time he served as National Secretary for Australia and New Zealand.
In 1995 Ramai Swami became a member of the GBC. His zonal assignments have included Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Indonesia, and Mayapur. Furthermore, Ramai Swami serves on the Parallel Lines of Authority and the Organizational Development committees with the aim of improving the organizational strength of the GBC and thus the whole movement. Other positions of responsibility he has occupied are two terms on the executive committee and two terms as chairman of the GBC. |
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