Who We Are

We are a 501c3 religious non-profit corporation, established in 1991. Our board has three members and two advisors, and sometimes forms temporary committees that can be composed of either or both board and non-board members.

 

Chief Officer

Dr. Edith E. Best (Urmila)
 

In high school, she was state and district champion in extemporaneous speaking, going to the quarterfinals in the national tournament.

Urmila’s primary work has been in the area of literary achievement and education. Presently she oversees the literary mission of Padma Inc. In 1984 she worked on a history textbook with Drista dasa, and soon afterwards started writing and compiling Vaikuntha Children, a guidebook for education in ISKCON. She was the education columnist for Back to Godhead magazine for eight years and continues to be an editor and feature writer. Urmila is part of the Sastric (scriptural) Advisory Council to the International Governing Board (GBC) of ISKCON, which researches scriptural understanding on major issues mandated by the GBC Body and responds to requests from the GBC Body or its Executive Committee for philosophical advice. From her office at Padma Inc. she also continues to research, write, and teach the Bhakti shastri course, a study of the Vedic literature.

Urmila’s service in education began in 1979. She has spent a total of five years running and teaching in a pre-school, mostly under the guidance of Jyotirmayi devi dasi. In 1982-83 in Detroit, Michigan, she and her husband started a primary school, which gradually grew to include secondary students. At that time, she completed several professional teaching courses from Mary Balwin College, Bob Jones University, Christian Light, and the Association of Christian Schools International. She soon became the principal of the school. In late 1990, Urmila started another primary and secondary school in North Carolina, where she continued to be the principal and main teacher until 2002 when she felt the need to focus more on curriculum development and global outreach. From 1988 until 1998, Urmila served on the International Board of Education of the Hare Krishna Movement, serving as president for two of those years.

Urmila received her Bachelor of Science in education and religion from
Excelsior College (of the University of the State of New York). She has
a Master of School Administration and a Doctor of Education, in
Educational Leadership, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.