In spring 1966, thieves stole the typewriter and tape-recorder from Srila Prabhupada's room on West 72nd street. Friends replaced the stolen items, but he wanted to move.
Srila Prabhupada did not want to follow the example of other "swamis" who found patrons in the fashionable uptown areas. A student called Harvey Cohen assured him he would have a more interested following if he preached in the Bowery in dangerous downtown New York. Srila Prabhupada accepted his offer of a flat there.
Word spread about the Indian saint in the Bowery with his chanting of Hare Krishna.
He asks for Indian assistance
Feeling optimistic about the prospects of training his students, Srila Prabhupada tried for Indian help. He wrote to his Indian contacts requesting financial aid and man power to facilitate his preaching.
However, the Indian Embassy in Washington informed him:
"Due to existing conditions of foriegn exchange stringency, it is not possible for the government of India to accede to your request for release of foriegn exchange"
A fellow sannyasi in India was reluctant to allow an eager disciple to join Srila Prabhupada, referring to the hope of turning westerners into vaishnavas as "ludicrous", prompting the reply:
"In the absolute field both success and failure are glorious for all parties concerned"
Srila Prabhupada would continue, as before, on his own.