Arvind Gupta
If we take around fifteen years prior to India’s Independence and add on another around fifteen years from 2021, this whole hundred years of time period belongs to two Gujaratis who selflessly dedicated their lives for one Nation. One born on 2nd of October 1869 at Porbandar Gujarat and second one on 17th of September 1950 at Vadnagar Gujarat. One gave the concept of AhinsaParmo Dharma and other one rejuvenated the concept of Veer BhogyaVasundhara. With AhinsaParmo Dharma, the Non-violence movement, one achieved the Independence from mighty British and with Veer BhogyaVasundhara other one showed to whole world the might of India by a successful Surgical Strike. One planted the seeds of Sawdeshi and other one made it big by Make in India. One despite of so big in stature laid the concept of Swachhtawhen he cleaned his own toilet and other one ensured to eliminate open defecation with his Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The one who gave India independence is the father of Nation Mohan DassKaram Chand Gandhi and the other one NarendraDamodardasModi, who is working hard to make India once again the Vishwa Guru by making us self-sufficient in every sphere of life.
Bharatiya Janata Party is celebrating the fifteen days’ time between the date of birth of these two great leaders as SewaPakhwada, which starts with the birth anniversary of Modiji on 17th of September and will culminate on the Jayanti of Gandhi ji on 2nd of October. During the period a number of welfare programs have been arranged which include exhibitions of the life of these leaders, Blood donation camps, Free health check-up camps, Free distribution of Artificial limbs to Divyangjans (differently able persons), Covid vaccination camps, Tree Plantations, Cleanliness drives, Water conservations under Jal hi Jeevan& rain water harvesting under Catch the Rain, arranging of camps to share the success stories of AtmaNirbhar Bharat under Vocal for Local and last but not the least the most ambitious program of adoption of atleast one TB patient so that by the year 2025 India becomes Tuberculosis free, which as of now is the only unaccomplished dream of Gandhi ji.
In today’s write-up I will discuss on the one common goal of both these leaders where every citizen of not only India but the whole world can be a part of it without even investing a single penny, and as on date this idea of Yoga is a global phenomenon.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world realised the importance of Yoga and recognised it as a massive source of wellbeing among the covid infected patients and the survivors. As moving outside was restricted, but on the personal appeal of Modiji numerous people all around the world started practising Yoga at their indoors to stay fit.
When the country was struggling through the first wave of coronavirus, Prime Minister NarendraModiwhile laying emphases on the benefits of yoga stated that yoga was even more crucial since certain yoga “Asanas” and their practises may benefit those suffering from various respiratory disorders. In 2021 on the initiative of Modijithe International Day of Yoga was celebrated worldwide with the theme of ‘Yoga at home, Yoga with family’. We all have seen that in such difficult times, yoga has become a great source of inner strength.
During difficult times of the pandemic Yoga has become a great medium of self-confidence. When the whole world was fighting the corona pandemic, yoga remained a ray of hope. Even though major public events were not organized in countries around the world on International Yoga Day and in India for two years, the enthusiasm for Yoga Day has not diminished.
Yoga which was known to all, but was not so popular by 2014, when Modiji stressed upon the need of fit & healthy India in his first inaugural address to nation as Prime Minister. While re-introducing Yoga to world he said, “I am sure, Yoga will continue playing its preventive, as well as promotive role in the healthcare of masses. If there are threats to humanity, Yoga often gives us a way of holistic health. Yoga also gives us a happier way of life.”
In collaboration with WHO Modiji has also launched a mYoga app that is available worldwide. The app is loaded with yoga training videos in different languages for people across the world. This app is supposed to help India to achieve our aim of being Vishwa Guru by adopting the motto of ‘One World, One Health’.
Yoga helps in the healing process. Once Modiji shared that, when he talked to frontline warriors and doctors during pandemic, they told him that they’ve made Yoga a shield for protection against the virus. They’ve used Yoga not just for safeguarding themselves, but also patients. Today even medical science lays emphasis on the healing process, besides medical treatment. Yoga helps in healing process.
For most of the countries of the world, Yoga Day is not their age-old cultural festival and people could have forgotten about it and ignored it, but on the contrary, people’s enthusiasm for yoga has increased, and the credit goes to Modiji. Some in opposition for the sake of just politics raised fingers on,Modiji’s so much involvement with Yoga but when the unseen coronavirus knocked on the doors of the world, no country was prepared for it in terms of resources, capability and mental state. Practising Yoga not only proved to be a great source of inner strength but also proved the belief of Gandhi ji as well as Modiji.
To fulfil the dream of Gandhi ji of Tuberculosis free India,Modiji has given a call of its full eradication by the year 2025, and we the common citizens must, to give a respectful homage to Gandhi ji on his Jayanti and take a pledge that we will adopt to the practices like Yoga to keep our selves healthy and make our country a physically fit India.
(The author is State Secretary and Incharge President Office, BJP Jammu & Kashmir UT)
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