Swami Ramdev

Swami Ramdev, स्वामी रामदेव, born Ram Krishna, is a Hindu Yogi, and National Activist. He is popularly known as Baba Ramdev, and has gained popularity for his teachings of Yoga, Pranayama and political activism on a number of social and medical issues, especially recently with his movement against corruption in India.

Contemporary life and fame

He shot into prominence when he started the Divya Yog Mandir Trust with the company of Acharya Bal Krishna. In 2003, Aastha TV began featuring him in its morning yoga slot. Within a few years, he had gathered a huge following. He is known for his efforts of popularizing yoga. The New York Times called 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". His yog-camps are attended by a large number of people in India and abroad.

Institutions founded

His flagship project is Patanjali Yog Peeth (a registered Trust which was inaugurated on August 6, 2006 by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, then Vice President of India). The primary aim of this institution is to build India the world's largest centre for Ayurved and Yoga with the facilities of treatment, research and training.

At present the trust offers treatment to those who cannot afford to pay and for the rest, it is provided at a reasonable cost. Various institutions and medical organizations are also run by the Patanjali Yoga Peeth Trust to study and improve the effectiveness of yoga against diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc. Recently the second phase of Patanjali Yoga Peeth has also started its working.

Political and Social Campaigns

Ramdev has clarified that he has no political ambitions and is not interested in starting a political party, but feels it's his obligatory duty to reform social and political ambiguities apart from popularising yoga and thus strengthen the country.

He has raised a number of political, social and economic issues through his yoga camps (in Hindi Yog Shivir). Most of the issues raised by him demand a drastic change in the governance policies of India.

Bharat Swabhiman

For changing governance policies, he has initiated a movement named Bharat Swabhiman along with Rajiv Dixit.

The five goalsof Bharat Swabhiman campaign are:

100% voting

100% nationalist thought,

100% boycott of foreign companies and adoption of swadeshi,

100% unification of the people of the nation and

100% yoga-oriented nation.

As a part of campaign, Baba Ramdev has been organising yoga camps across India to create awareness amongst people against corruption and black money.

Early life

He was born as Ram Krishna Yadav to Gulabo Devi and Ram Nivas Yadav in the village Ali Saiyad Pur (Alipur) of Mahendragarh district in Haryana state of India. He was inspired by the portraits of Ram Prasad 'Bismil' and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose that were hung in his room.[citation needed] According to his statements in an open Yog Shivir at Shahjahanpur, when he grew up and read the autobiography of Ram Prasad 'Bismil', his mind was totally cleansed. After completing his middle education of eighth standard from Shahjadpur Haryana, he joined Aarsh (Arya) Gurukul, Khanpur and studied Sanskrit and Yoga under the guidance of Acharya Pradumn.

After he received teachings from Acharya Baldevji, he renounced worldly life, entering into Sanyas and changed his name from Ram Krishna to Swami Ramdev. (Note: The Hindi word swami means master).

In Kalva Gurukul of Jind district in Haryana India he offered free training of Yog to villagers for some time. Then he moved to Haridwar and spent several years studying ancient Indian scriptures at Gurukul Kangari. This included a rare book of Aurobindo Ghosh- Yogik Sadhan, translated from Bangla into Hindi by Ram Prasad 'Bismil'. After reading this small booklet he went to the caves of Himalaya and practiced intense self-discipline and meditation.

Views and stand on black money

Swami Ramdev has been associated with the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement and was involved in the Jan Lokpal agitation

In February 2011, he gave the following steps for eradication of black money:

Withdrawal and demonetizing of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes - so as to avoid misuse of unaccounted money and quick arrest of the entire locally circulated black money, bribing, and fake note traffic.

Agree to and accept the U.N. Convention against Corruption – pending since 2006.

Death penalty provision for the corrupt persons in Indian Penal Code.

Access, monitor and disrupt payment gateway servers enabling corrupt people to manage money in tax havens.

Scrutinizing accounts of people having credit/debit cards of foreign banks without any foreign work/relation.

Disabling operations of any bank from a tax haven country.

The practicality of such steps has been called into question.

He has raised the issue of Indian money stashed away illegally in Swiss Bank which is estimated to be anywhere between 1 to 1.5 trillion USD. He says that the government must take immediate action and bring back the money as it belongs to the people of India. Not only this he openly charges that this black money has been taken out of the country illegally and also very strongly demands a capital punishment to all those Indians or N.R.I.s, who acquire, handle and stash black money. He suggests that Mauritius route is a tax haven for black money operators in India and this route should be cut effectively by the Indian government. He had also demanded (as early as September 2009) the removal of currency of denominations of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000, saying that this would curb corruption, black money and terrorism.

On agriculture and dietary practices

In many yog shivira (yoga camps), he has raised the issue of increased consumption of fast foods, packed foods and soft drinks by the people. According to him these products can cause diseases and so they must not be eaten. He has also claimed that commercially available aerated drinks are harmful to due to the presence of phosphoric acids, preservatives, unknown chemicals and emulsifiers. He claims that these drinks are very harmful to the entire body and especially the stomach lining if consumed. He has also made statements along the lines of "Cold Drinks means Toilet Cleaner" and has claimed that these cold drinks are more effective at cleaning toilets than commercially available toilet cleaners. He urges people in his public meetings to pledge not to consume commercial aerated drinks, to protect individual health as well as to avoid Indian wealth being transferred to multinational companies. Instead he advices the public to consume hot water, milk or traditional Indian juices only so that India may become prosperous.

He has also claimed that the use of fertilizers and pesticides has led to an undue economic load on farmers and increased the profits of large business houses involved in the business. He also claims that these practices are harmful to the general public, since the farming produce is contaminated with inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Due to this practice, the farming land is also becoming barren. He also blames corrupt practices for the miserable conditions of the poor farmers and other backward class of the society. He says that although agriculture is the biggest area which can contribute enough to India's economy yet it's farmers are the most poverty stricken class of the country.

Illegal Mining

According to Bharat Swabhiman Trust, there is permission for only 200 mining leases but about one hundred thousands illegal mines are operational in the country. He also describes illegal mining in India as one of the major social issue that requires an immediate ban.

Controversies and criticisms

Alleged link with RSS and BJP

Ramdev is supposedly linked by Rashritya RSS by many politicians.Lalu Yadav said in a press conference that "Sadhvi Ritambhara was the first one to share the stage (with Ramdev at ramlila protest). She was the one who was responsible for the Babri Masjid demolition". Digvijay Singh,Congress general secretary alleged that all the 5 star arrangements at Ramlila ground protests were done by right activist group RSS and VHP. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that "Some people with vested interest are hijacking and remote controlling the protest by RSS and BJP".He also alleged that nation wide protest by ramdev is being financed by RSS.

Initially RSS leader Ram Madhav made distance on this issue. Though later RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that "The RSS was not behind the stir launched by Ramdev seeking repatriation of the black money stashed illegally in foreign banks but have extended all support to it (agitation).He added "RSS cannot remain a mute spectator to the social revolution taking place against corruption and black money. Therefore, it has asked its cadres to join the agitation"

11 billion rupees Empire

Ramdev is allegedly called as business tycoon,has built a global yoga empire that stretches from India to a remote island in Scotland, with declared revenues since 1995 of 11 billion rupees ($220 million)."I've become so powerful, I can uproot a government. I don't have financial or legal power, but in a democracy I have the power of the people," he declared in an interview with Indian magazine Tehelka last year.

Labour Law violations and Animal parts in medicines

In March 2005, 113 employees of Divya Yoga Mandir Trust, Haridwar started an agitation for minimum wages and employees's rights such as coverage under the Provident Fund and Employees' State Insurance schemes. After a tripartite meeting, an agreement was reached between the workers, management and the district administration. However, some agitating workers were dismissed by the Trustees after being alleged to be responsible for sabotage. Their case was taken up by the trade union Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), affiliated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). They are still to be reinstated.

Brinda Karat, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was involved with the protesters and was told by disgruntled workers that animal parts were used in the manufacture of some medicines. In January 2006, she accused the Divya Pharmacy, owned by Divya Yog Mandir Trust for using human and animal bones in their medicines. Samples of the medicines Kulya Bhasm (Mixture) and Yauvanamrit Vati purchased from Brahmakalp Chikitsalaya- the Trust's Hospital at Haridwar were allegedly tested at government labs and the presence of animal materials in the sample was confirmed. However, the source of the samples was disputed, as these had been supplied by Karat to the labs and not procured by government officials. Karat produced what were claimed to be the prescription and cash receipt obtained from the medicine counter for the samples provided.

Her controversial remarks drew strong condemnation from several politicians in North India, like Sharad Pawar, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Narayan Dutt Tiwari. Subsequently she received a legal notice on the behalf of a B.J.P. leader in Faridabad.

A few month later in 2006, four samples were sent to the government recognized Shriram Institute of Industrial Research in Delhi. The report from this institute declared that the samples did not contain any objectionable ingredient and were purely herbal, however, the Union Health Ministry did find animal DNA in the samples, although most of the newspapers carried reports to the contrary.

Views on AIDS and sex education

In December 2006, Swami Ramdev claimed to cure diseases such as AIDS and cancer through yoga and ayurvedic drugs sold by his Divya Yoga Mandir Trust. He also went on to suggest that sex education should be replaced by yoga, which was the way to AIDS awareness, prevention and cure. "Sex education in schools need to be replaced by yoga education," Ramdev told reporters at the state health minister's residence. As a consequence of these public statements he was sent a cease and desist order by the Indian Union Health Ministry to avoid making such claims in the future, and the civil society threatened legal action In response, Ramdev retracted his statement and said the claims were not directly his, but those of patients who practiced yoga.

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. Swami Ramdev has claimed having documented proof of his successes, but has failed to provide any to the media or the Ministry

Views on homosexuality

In July 2009, when Delhi High Court gave a verdict under decriminalizing homosexuality in Delhi, the swami called a press conference and said, "this verdict of the court will encourage criminality and sick mentality. This kind of thing is shameful and insulting to all of us. 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 this matter to the streets of Delhi in protest.

Awards and recognitions

January 2007 - Honorary Doctorate, by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, in recognition of his efforts to popularize the Vedic system/science of Yoga.

March 2010 - Honored with Degree of Doctorate of Sciences by Amity University Noida.

April 2010 - Honored with honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Dr D. Y. Patil Deemed University.

January 2011 - Honored with Sri Chandrashekharendra Saraswati National Eminence Award by Maharashtra Governor K. Shankaranarayanan.


Tags: Yoga history , Modern Yoga , Yoga