Critics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi within the country and abroad have attributed motives to Modi for his initiative in spreading the yoga culture in India. They have made a variety of claims including the claim that Modi is imposing Hindu religious practices on others and, therefore, the yoga movement is anti secular.
There has also been criticism that Modi frequently announces his whimsical ideas and makes tall claims about the benefits of his ideas with the view to promote his personality. There have been some more similar uncharitable observations.
India has to develop in multiple directions to occupy it’s rightful place in the global arena. While industrial growth and economic development are vital factors that should improve, it is also necessary that the battle for the future in India has to be fought in the minds and hearts of the citizens. Furthermore, physical health factors of the citizens are also important elements of growth.
Several developed countries which have thought in the past that economic and industrial growth are the be all and end all of developments are now having to relook at such an approach and are veering to the view that the holistic development of man is necessary. This is the reason that in developed Western countries, at least some people are looking at developing countries like India to get inputs on ancient philosophies and practices of these regions, where there has been greater stress on man and his mind as opposed to material welfare.
The advantages and merits of practicing yoga are now recognised in several countries and the United Nations also has accorded its approval. Several medical practitioners and researchers advise people to practice yoga to maintain good and robust health. Regular practice can certainly bring an element of discipline amongst individuals and when children are encouraged to perform yoga at the formative age, it will have a positive influence on their lifestyle as they grow up.
While yoga may not be a wholesome solution to the variety of issues faced in India with regard to the lifestyle of individuals, it certainly can have a positive impact to some extent. Obviously, this is what Modi is striving to achieve and his yoga movement has the potential to emerge as a game changer in India
— The reader is an Indian founder, trustee of an NGO based in Chennai, India
