The government is considering whether to make
yoga a mandatory part of the curriculum from pre-school to post-graduation,
that too all over the country. This ancient science and India’s most
significant export to the world – courtesy Swami Vivekananda – is already very
popular across the globe with many westerners being ardent practitioners
swearing by its benefits. Yoga, argue many — including medical experts — can
improve fitness levels, fight heart diseases, and a variety of other disorders,
both physical and mental. The government’s latest move is welcome as it aims to
develop healthy children into healthier adults, and by consequence, more
responsible citizens.
This move should hopefully unburden the weight
dumped on the tender shoulders of school-going children across the country
which is stunting their growth. As per the plan, basic and advanced education
could be imparted, with the Ministry of HRD and Ayush departments covering a
wide range of yoga perspectives. Ayush could take care of it at the primary
education level and HRD at the university level. To make trained yoga teachers
available, there is a plan is to train teachers through the National Council
for Teachers’ Education.
Popularising yoga at home will also be in keeping
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intention to extend India’s soft power
across the world. The UN has earmarked June 21 as International Yoga Day, due
in large measure to his efforts. The government in fact celebrated the
International Yoga Day last year by holding the biggest ever mass yoga show. As
many as 35,985 participants belonging to 84 nationalities performed asanas,
setting a Guinness World record. If yoga is popularised in every part of the
country, it could also bring more harmony and connectedness to Gen X that has
become gadget and net connected but disconnected from itself and the world.
Modi’s pithy observation that yoga is a journey from “I to we and self to
universe”, sums up its importance for the citizens of tomorrow.
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