India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, known for his ascetic image, will lead a session for International Yoga Day at the United Nations’ Secretariat in New York. This event holds significance for millions of Indians who admire Modi’s commitment to yoga, an ancient discipline originating from Hindu sages. Yoga has emerged as one of India’s most successful cultural exports, rivaling even Bollywood, and has become an integral part of India’s diplomatic endeavors.
Surinder Goel, a 61-year-old yoga instructor from New Delhi, practices yoga daily and believes it is India’s invaluable contribution to the world. He credits Prime Minister Modi for popularizing yoga globally, even in Muslim countries.
According to Goel, yoga should be embraced as a daily practice worldwide, regardless of one’s busy schedule. He highlights that even the busiest individual, like the Prime Minister himself, manages to practice yoga daily. Goel advocates for making yoga compulsory in schools and encourages the entire world to engage in yoga throughout the year, not just on International Yoga Day.
Almost a decade ago, the Hindu nationalist leader, Narendra Modi, effectively advocated for the United Nations to recognize June 21 as International Yoga Day. Since then, Modi has utilized yoga as a form of cultural influence, extending India’s diplomatic reach and showcasing the country’s rising global stature.
Modi’s efforts have resulted in a widespread promotion of yoga, even among foreign diplomats who have been spotted engaging in stretching exercises within embassy grounds and gardens. Government officials and employees have enthusiastically shared images on social media, demonstrating various yoga poses, occasionally expressing fatigue and soreness after participating in large-scale outdoor yoga sessions.
Notably, the Indian military has also embraced yoga, showcasing their flexibility and unity. They have demonstrated yoga poses alongside trained K-9 units, performed challenging asanas on aircraft carriers, and practiced yoga in the bone-chilling temperatures of the high-altitude Himalayas. These displays highlight the commitment of India’s armed forces to both physical and mental well-being.
Modi himself has embraced yoga wholeheartedly, showcasing his unwavering dedication to the practice. In 2018, he shared a two-minute video on Twitter, revealing his proficiency in various yoga poses. The video captured him performing stretches and even leaning backward on a rock in a spread-armed savasana pose, which subsequently inspired numerous memes.
In 2019, following the conclusion of national polling, Modi sought solitude and meditation in a Himalayan mountain cave. Interestingly, a camera crew accompanied him, broadcasting live visuals of his contemplative retreat to the entire nation. This public display of his spiritual endeavor reflected his commitment to personal introspection and served as an inspiration to others.
Through his personal engagement with yoga and meditation, Modi continues to exemplify the transformative power of these practices and promotes their adoption as a means of enhancing physical and mental well-being.
Continuing his commitment to promoting yoga, Modi took it a step further by sharing animated videos of himself performing various yoga poses via his Twitter account. This creative approach aimed to engage a wider audience and encourage them to embrace yoga as a beneficial practice.
Currently on a three-day visit to the United States, Modi is now leading global leaders in yoga sessions, emphasizing the benefits of yoga as part of his agenda. India, with its population surpassing China to become the world’s most populous country at over 1.42 billion people, faces significant religious diversity. Despite its origins in Hinduism, Modi has utilized yoga to enhance his image and foster unity in the diverse nation.
In some instances, Modi’s ministers have incorporated religious elements into their yoga practice, such as performing sun salutations and reciting Sanskrit verses considered sacred in Hinduism. The government has encouraged employees and students to participate in yoga sessions, and some state administrations governed by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have even proposed making yoga mandatory in schools. This approach reflects Modi’s efforts to infuse yoga with cultural and religious significance, aligning it with India’s heritage while promoting its health benefits.
The politicization of yoga in recent years has sparked anger among some of Prime Minister Modi’s critics, particularly within the Muslim community, which constitutes India’s largest minority and has experienced increased violence under Hindu nationalist groups. They argue that they should not be compelled to engage in practices such as sun salutations or chant Hindu hymns.
To address these concerns, government ministers have attempted to reassure dissenters by stating that participation in sun salutations would be optional. However, some individuals remain skeptical of these assurances.
Srivalli Cherla, a 30-year-old yoga instructor based in the remote Ladakh region of India, has observed the growing politicization of yoga. Initially drawn to yoga in 2017 for its physical benefits, she gradually discovered its positive impact on her mental well-being. Cherla found that yoga helped her release pent-up anger and provided a form of mental discipline. It taught her to resist negative thoughts, thereby presenting a mental challenge.
For Cherla, yoga serves as a personal sanctuary, allowing her to find solace and mental clarity after a challenging day. She views it as an essential practice that not only nurtures physical health but also cultivates mental resilience by encouraging self-discipline and the ability to overcome negative thoughts and emotions.
Cherla recounts her experience of enrolling in a yoga instructor certification program recognized by the Indian government’s Ayush Ministry, which promotes Ayurveda traditional medicine. However, she discontinued the training after just 10 days due to a remark made by one of the teachers. The comment implied that yoga was exclusively a Hindu practice and not a secular one, leaving Cherla with a negative impression. She had always viewed yoga as a cultural rather than a religious practice, and this incident highlighted a disconnect between the teachings and her own understanding and beliefs about yoga.
In agreement with Cherla’s perspective, yoga enthusiast Goel in New Delhi emphasizes that yoga is for everyone, irrespective of their religious background. He emphasizes the need to separate yoga from religion and politics, emphasizing that its benefits should be accessible to all individuals, especially the common people, rather than being confined to the domain of ministers and politicians.
Moreover, Goel firmly believes that yoga has the potential to bring about personal, national, and even global transformation. He recognizes its power to positively impact individuals, societies, and the world at large, transcending boundaries and creating a positive change on various levels.