Row over Yoga Day unfortunate, says RSS, praises Darul Uloom

13th of Jun 2015

New Delhi: Terming as "unfortunate" the row over International Yoga Day celebrations, RSS mouthpiece 'Organiser' on Saturday said the opposition to Yoga is an echo of "fractured mindsets" and lauded Darul Uloom for its whole-hearted support to the event.

An editorial titled "Streamlining Human Consciousness" in the latest edition of 'Organiser' hoped the "secular brigade" recognises the spiritual significance of Yoga while advocating the introducing of Yoga as a part of curriculum.

"It is unfortunate that while the whole world is recognising Yoga as India's civilisational contribution to humanity, some people in India are trying to rake up controversies by bringing in religious connotations.

"It is beyond doubt that Yoga is the Indian way of holistic life. That does not mean Yoga is limited to a religion or certain religious practices. Denouncing the celebration on the ground of opposing certain hymns or celebrating it on Sunday only echo our fractured mindset and all the more highlight the need for Yogic life," the editorial said.

It said 'Surya Namaskar' is not a form of worship but well known as a capsuled form of Yoga which anyone can practice in a short span of time. "If leading a healthy life is a human right then it should be available to all human beings, irrespective of religion," it said.

The 'Organiser' said, a call by the Islamic religious and educational institution from Deoband -- Darul Uloom, is significant as it has not only whole-hearted supported the celebration but clearly delinked Yoga from religion. "Hope other members of secular brigade recognise the spiritual significance of Yoga," it said.

The RSS mouthpiece also invoked Swami Vivekananda and said when humanity is going through worst kind of strife and stress, Yoga should be seen as a way of life, leading to the union of body mind, intellect and soul as envisaged by sages.

"One has to recognise that this approach takes us beyond the debates and discussions over religions and medical pathies.

This is essentially meant for streamlining our consciousness which will ultimately nurture the sense of inherent unity and equanimity amongst all beings. Thus, Yogic way of life should be seen as precondition for individual as well as social health," the mouthpiece said.

Aceptable with modifications

Meanwhile, prominent Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Maulana Mahmood Madani has said that Muslims have no problem with Yoga provided certain modifications are made to it.

He, however, alleged that a concerted effort is being made to give a particular colour to yoga and "that is what is creating problems".

"We Muslims have no problem with Yoga but there are certain words that need to be corrected. As a physical exercise and as a way of life, yoga has great benefits but it has been given a particular colour and that is not correct. Yoga should not be associated with any particular religion," he told Rajat Sharma on India TV's 'Aap Ki Adalat'.

"If certain changes are made, then more and more people will start practicing yoga... and it may become a medium for uniting people in the country," he said according to a press release issued by the channel.

Elaborating his reservations concerning 'Surya Namaskar', Madani said, "Considering sun as god is against the basic tenets of Islam. It should not be made a part of government- organised functions."

He said he had himself practiced Surya Namaskar for a long time as a physical exercise and if changes are made to it, then Muslims will have no reason to complain.

"There are changes that need to be made -- remove shlokas, don't insist on performing this (Surya Namaskar) while keeping your face towards sun and don't make it compulsory for everybody," he said as he welcomed government's clarification that Surya Namaskar won't be a part of International Yoga Day events on June 21.

Madani also appreciated Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik's statement that Muslims can take Allah's name in place of shlokas.

Commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that Indian Muslims have lived for the country and will die for it, he said, "Two things are very important for Muslims, 'imaan' (faith) and nation. There is no doubt that Indian Muslims have lived for the country and will die for the country."

India-China Yoga college

Ahead of the first UN Yoga Day to be observed on June 21, India-China Yoga College was inaugurated on Saturday at Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming, the first such government institution in China were the Indian spiritual art form has become very popular in recent years, a PTI report from Beijing said.

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh along with Vice Governor of Yunnan Province Ding Shaoxiang unveiled the plaque of India-China Yoga College in Yunnan Minzu University on Saturday.

The MoU for establishing the Yoga College was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to China last month.

Singh, who is here to take part in the 3rd China-South Asia Expo in which India is the 'theme country, also unveiled the bust of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore presented by India to the University.

Indian Ambassador to China Ashok Kantha said it is first Yoga college in China. It will provide certification courses with Indian teachers helping with curriculum development and training.

The Indian Consulate in Guangzhou in association with Yunnan University had also organized an exhibition of the paintings of Tagore to mark his 150th birth centenary. Tagore is regarded as the most popular Indian literary personality whose works are widely translated and read in China.

Courtesy: Times of Oman

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