Yoga is ubiquitous in life
Yoga is all about integrating the mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, and man and nature (‘Making a lasting impression on my yoga mat’, Gulf News, June 17). But, do we really appreciate the full import of the term ‘yoga’ in that sense? Looking around, what we see is a unidimensional view of yoga as a physical fitness activity emphasising postures and controlled breathing. What is really required is to look at ‘yoga’ as a multidimensional system that takes a holistic view of the process of actualising your capabilities, mindsets and skill sets and not just confining it to physical exercise.
It is all about being productive and creative. It is all about acquiring dexterity of skills, equanimity of mind and developing the right set of motivations for all your actions.
Thus, on this International Yoga Day, focus instead on how we can better understand the many facets of yoga as a tool for self development!
From Mr Satish Menon
Sharjah
Indian minister: Justified or inappropriate?
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is currently at the focal point of a major row for helping scam-tainted former Indian Premiere League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi to obtain British travel documents, but found strong support from the ruling party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rejected the Opposition’s demand for her resignation (‘Doting husband could derail a flourishing political career, Gulf News, June 16). This makes it an issue of impropriety versus humanitarianism. Major opposition parties, including the Congress party have pressed for Swaraj’s resignation with immediate effect.
From Dr Shiben Krishen Raina
Ajman
A case of opportunism
Swaraj is in troubled waters over helping Modi and this was an interesting article to read. The recent allegations against Swaraj helping the former cricket administrator from the UK was made a big debate with all the Opposition parties asking for the Indian Prime Minister to sack her now. However, her explanation that it was on humanitarian grounds to help him for his travel documents to see his wife was not accepted by the Opposition. Politics is the game of opportunism and no humanitarian grounds is clear in this case. Will she overcome this allegation? We will wait and see.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Something is rotten here
Swaraj’s controversy arose after a series of emails were disclosed that revealed that Swaraj had spoken to Indian-origin British member of parliament Keith Vaz and High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan, on behalf of Modi to grant him travel documents to go to Portugal for his wife’s cancer treatment in June last year. After it was flashed by media, the minister responded on Twitter that she had taken a “humanitarian view” in the matter. The Opposition parties, meanwhile, demanded her resignation, alleging grave impropriety on her part in helping a fugitive from law. But the government, the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have strongly justified the minister’s action and rejected resignation demands. Since Modi is wanted in India for the alleged foreign exchange regulation violations in the T20 cricket tournament held in South Africa in 2009, one who observes the situation may doubt that something is rotten somewhere.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
She should know better!
It is an indiscretion of a serious kind, which Swaraj should have avoided. Ironically, her husband and daughter were Modi’s lawyers when he was facing legal hurdles. This has given ample teeth for the Opposition, who are waiting for an opportunity to bite Narendra Modi and his Government. Unlike the loose tongued BJP members of parliament, Swaraj as a senior politician should have analysed the pros and cons of her act of sympathy. It is high time our Prime Minister takes some stern steps to stop such uncalled for embarrassments to his government and him.
From Mr N. Viswanathan
Virugambakkam, India
Parking permits sorely needed
Well done, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) (‘RTA launches residential parking permits’, Gulf News, June 15)! This should have been done a long time ago, because we always suffer when looking for parking. People just come by and park their cars next to our villa, where we are unable to park our cars. Instead, we get fines when parking on the road. To date, we still have people parking their cars in front of our villa and leaving it there for months, without movement. I would like to add that there should be more supervision in such areas.
From Ms Maitha
UAE
Website comment
Left with no alternatives
Bring a similar initiative in International City, Dubai. Many people just park there for good and nobody seems to bother with them. It has left us with literally no parking spaces after 7pm. Residents are then bound to park their cars on pavements and other places and end up getting fined!
From Mr Suhaib Ahmad Khan
Dubai
Facebook comment
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