India’s prime minister has a reputation of casting himself as an ascetic. So when Narendra Modi leads foreign dignitaries and bureaucrats in a session for International Yoga Day on Wednesday at the United Nations’ Secretariat in New York, millions of Indians will take note.
Yoga, an ancient discipline first practiced by Hindu sages, is now one of India’s most successful cultural exports after Bollywood. And it’s become a piece of India’s diplomacy. Surinder Goel, a 61-year-old yoga instructor in the capital, New Delhi, practices daily. He says the activity is “India’s contribution to the world.”
Nine years ago, the Hindu nationalist leader successfully lobbied the U.N. to designate June 21 as International Yoga Day. Since then, Modi has harnessed yoga as a cultural soft power to stretch his nation’s diplomatic reach and flex his country’s rising place in the world. A year later, Modi went the extra mile, tweeting videos showing an animated version of him doing yoga poses.
Modi’s ministers, following their leader in practicing yoga, have sometimes marked it with religious connotations by doing sun salutations and chanting Sanskrit verses considered holy in Hinduism. Government employees and students have been asked to practice the same, and some state administrations ruled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party have sought to make it mandatory in schools.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Living la vida yoga: India's Modi will bend leaders into shape on International Yoga DayWhen Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads foreign dignitaries and bureaucrats in a session for International Yoga Day on Wednesday at the United Nations’ Secretariat in New York, millions of Indians will take note. Yoga is an ancient discipline first practiced by Hindu sages. Now, it's one of India’s most successful cultural exports after Bollywood. And it’s become a piece of India’s diplomacy. Yoga instructor Surinder Goel says yoga should be a daily practice worldwide. Another yoga instructor, Srivalli Cherla, says yoga has become too politicized in recent years. Modi’s ministers, following their leader in practicing yoga, have sometimes marked it with religious connotations by doing sun salutations and chanting Sanskrit verses considered holy in Hinduism.
Read more »
Summer solstice 2023: First day of summer, longest day of the year.The official start of the summer season is arriving soon.
Read more »
What Is Juneteenth and How Is It Celebrated?Juneteenth isn’t the 'other' Independence Day, it is the Independence Day.
Read more »
As Modi visits White House, India’s reliance on Russian arms constrains himIndia has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in large part due to India's overwhelming dependence on Russian military supplies.
Read more »
Indians in New Jersey can’t wait to see Mr. Modi | OpinionModi is far and away the most popular major leader in the world
Read more »
Defence, critical tech on agenda as India's Modi heads to US for landmark visitIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the United States this week for a visit billed as a turning point for bilateral relations, with deeper cooperation in defence industry and sharing high technology in sharp focus.
Read more »