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| Swami Ramdev | |
|---|---|
 Swami Ramdev. | |
| Born | Ramkishan Yadav 25 December 1965 Haryana, India |
| Residence | Faridabad, Haridwar, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Yogi |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Ramkishan Yadav , (Hindi: स्वामी रामदेव), is an Indian Hindu Kshatriya Rastra Guru popularly known as swami Ramdev.Baba Ramdev was born as Ramkishan Yadav in 1965, in Alipur in the Mahendragarh district of Indian state of Haryana. He attended school till the eighth grade in Shahjadpur. He then joined a gurukul in Khanpur village to study Sanskritand Yoga. Eventually, he renounced worldly life and entered into Sanyas (monastic living) - taking his present name.[1] He then went to Jind district and joined the Kalva gurukul and offered free Yoga training to villagers across Haryana. Ramdev spent many years undertaking an study of ancient Indian scriptures. At the same time, he also practiced intense self-discipline and meditation.He is known for his efforts in popularizing yoga as it is enunciated in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. He is also one of the founders of the Divya Yog Mandir Trust headquartered in Haridwar, that aims to popularize Yoga and offer Ayurvedictreatments. The New York Times calls him an "Indian who built Yoga Empire", "a product and symbol of the New India, a yogic fusion of Richard Simmons, Dr. Oz and Oprah Winfrey, irrepressible and bursting with Vedic wisdom".[2] His camps are attended by a large number of people.
[edit]Institutions founded
Swami Ramdev's flagship project, the Patanjali Yogpeeth (PYP) Trust, was inaugurated on August 6, 2006. Its aim is to build the world's largest center for Ayurveda and Yoga that includes facilities for treatment, research and a teaching university.[3][4] The trust primarily offers free treatment to those who cannot afford to pay. For others, treatment is provided at a lower cost than at hospitals.
Through PYP, Swami Ramdev continues to work with various institutions and medical organizations in an effort to study and improve the effectiveness of yoga against diseases likediabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc.
Swami Ramdev has acquired a Scottish isle for about £2 million to set up a wellness retreat. The Little Cumbrae Island, off the fishing town of Largs in Scotland, will also serve as the guru’s base overseas, where his teachings of yoga as a means to cleanse the body and mind are gaining popularity. The acquisition itself was carried out by a Scottish couple of Indian origin, Sam and Sunita Poddar, who saw recession and the resultant fall in property prices as an opportunity to expand the base of Patanjali Yogpeeth — the institution founded by Ramdev for scientific research and treatment in yog, spiritualism and ayurveda. The island property has been inaugurated in September 2009 with a ‘Yagna or 'Yagya’(a Vedic Sanatan Dharm prayer in the presence of a purifying fire), will be administered by the Patanjali Yogpeeth (UK) Trust.[5]
[edit]National Issues Raised
Swami Ramdev has raised a number of national issues through his yoga camps (yog shivirs). Most of the issues raised by him demand change in the governance policies of India and the lifestyle of the common people. Some of the most emphasized issues are:
[edit]Bharat Swabhiman Campaign
Swami Ramdev has initiated a movement named Bharat Swabhiman with the help of activist and social promoter intellectual Rajiv Dixitwho gives speeches with the intention of eradicating corruption, crime, poverty from India with an aim to transform it into a World Power.[6]
[edit]Malpractices in the agricultural sector
Swami Ramdev says that the use of fertilizers and pesticides has led to undue load on and poverty of farmers and increased profits for large business houses involved in this trade. These pose a big threat to farmers and to the health of the common man since the farm land is increasingly becoming barren and contaminated with harmful chemicals. The farm produce like grains, fruits and vegetables are contaminated with inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.
[edit]Consumption of fast food and soft drinks
At most of his yog shivirs (yoga camps) Swami Ramdev has raised the issue of increased consumption of fast foods, packed foods and soft drinks by common people. He says that these products are disease causing junk and must not be eaten. Swami Ji says that aerated drinks are harmful for children as well as adults.
[edit]Exploitation of farmers
Swami Ramdev blames the corrupt governance practices for the miserable conditions of the farmers and other backward parts of the society. He says that agriculture is the biggest contributor to India's economy and yet the farmers are the most poverty stricken class of people. He says that for the economic prosperity of the country it is an issue of utmost importance to bring welfare to the farmers.
[edit]Poor condition of indigenous industries
[edit]Indian black money in Swiss banks
Swami Ramdev has publicly raised the issue of Indian money stashed away illegally in Swiss bank which is estimated to be between 1-1.5 trillion USD. He says that the government must take concrete action and bring back the money as it belongs to the people of India and has been taken out of the country illegally [1]
[edit]Controversies and criticisms
Over the years Swami Ramdev's name has been a part of several controversies.
[edit]Minimum wage
In March 2005, about 113 employees of the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust started an agitation for minimum wages, coverage under theProvident Fund and Employees' State Insurance schemes. At a tripartite meeting, an agreement was reached between the workers, management and the district administration. However, some agitating workers were dismissed by the Trust after being charged for alleged sabotage. Their case was taken up by a trade union controlled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). They are still to be reinstated.[7][8]
[edit]Allegations of bone usage in manufacturing
In January 2006, senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat accused the Divya Yog Mandir Trust Pharmacy, owned by Ramdev, of using human and animal bones in their medicines. Samples of the medicines Kuliya Bhasm and Yauvanamrit Batipurchased from Brahmakalp Chikitsalay, the Trust's hospital at Haridwar, were allegedly tested at government labs and the presence of animal materials in the sample was not proved. She exhibited what she claimed to be the prescription and cash receipt obtained from the medicine counter in support of her claim.[8][9] Her controversial remarks have drawn strong condemnation from some in North India, including reprimands from politicians like Sharad Pawar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ambika Soni, and Narayan Dutt Tiwari[10] Subsequently she received a legal notice on the behalf of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Faridabad.[11]
Later in 2006, four samples were sent to the government-recognized Shriram Institute of Industrial Research in Delhi. The report from this institution declared that the samples did not contain objectionable ingredients and were purely herbal. Swami Ramdev was subsequently cleared of the charges.[12]
[edit]Opposition to Homosexuality
In July 2009, in the wake of the Delhi High Court decriminalizing homosexuality in Delhi, Ramdev told the press "The verdict will encourage criminality and sick mentality. This kind of thing is shameful and insulting. We are blindly following the West in everything. This is breaking the family system in India. Homosexuals are sick people, they should be sent to hospitals for treatment. If the government brings this law, I will take to the streets of Delhi in protest."[13]
[edit]Claims of curing AIDS
In December 2006, press reports claimed that Swami Ramdevji had made claims of being able to use Yoga to cure AIDS. A website promoting his products states that the CD4 cell count in some AIDS patients has improved after practising Yoga.[14] This statement was translated by certain journalists as claiming a cure for AIDS.[15] As a consequence of these press reports he was sent a cease and desist order by the Indian Union Health Ministry and threatened legal action from medical NGOs.[16] Ramdev responded by saying that notice was not applicable to him since he never made claim to cure it,[17] and that he has been misrepresented by media.[18]
[edit]Claims of curing cancer
Other press reports quoted him as claiming to have a cure for cancer of the breast, liver, prostate, uterus, pituitary gland, brain tumors and leukemia by practicing the seven breathing exercises.
In a residential camp held in Yog Gram, Haridwar during 19–25 June 2008, several cancer patients stepped forward to recount first-hand stories of their successful bouts with blood, prostate and breast cancer using Pranayam or breathing exercises.[19]
Swami Ramdev has claimed having documented proof of his successes.
[edit]Awards and recognitions
- January 2007 - Honorary Doctorate, KIIT University (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Orissa) in recognition of his efforts at popularizing the Vedic science of Yoga.[20]
- March 2010 - Honored with Degree of Doctorate of Sciences by Amity University
- April 2010 - Honored with honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Dr D Y Patil Deemed University.
- January 2011 - Honored with Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati National Eminence Award by Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan.[21]
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