India — Calcutta

Calcutta is the largest city in India and one of the largest in the world. With a dramatically increasing population and no workable technology to address the ills of its populace, this is a city in dire need of the solutions that Dianetics and Scientology have to offer. Recognizing this, a successful business owner and native of Calcutta, Sanjib Mallik, decided to do something about it, something that would be effective. He is now the Mission Holder of the rapidly expanding Church of Scientology, Mission of Calcutta, and this is how he tells that story:

“In 1996 an accident forced me to spend two months in bed. A couple of friends heard of my distress and gave me what are called Dianetics ‘assists’ (simple procedures that help an individual recover from shock, grief, pain and exhaustion). They also gave me a number of Mr. Hubbard’s books to read. They then invited me and my wife to their mission in Teaneck, New Jersey, and soon we took our first steps in Scientology. My wife and I have never looked back. Each action I completed in Scientology brought me to new levels of ability and understanding.

“I became aware that Dianetics had been generally absent in the Indian subcontinent. I knew that Mr. Hubbard’s beneficial works on subjects such as drug rehabilitation would find fertile ground in India to provide relief to those in need.

“So I decided to put Dianetics there, and being from Calcutta myself, this would be the best place to start.”

“Among the people of Calcutta there is a great tradition of reading books and people look forward to the arrival of new books with great interest. Calcutta has a huge annual event I thought would be perfect for the dissemination of Mr Hubbard’s books: the Calcutta Book Fair.