Governor Shri Kataria inaugurates national seminar on Yoga
Yoga has a direct impact on the development of society and country: Governor
Yoga provides a creative direction to peace and harmony
Guwahati,Rongili Barta- Assam Governor Shri Gulab Chand Kataria inaugurated a national seminar on ‘Yoga’, the ancient and wonderful knowledge of Indian culture at a programme held at GMCH auditorium here. The seminar titled ‘Yoga for Humanity’ organized by Srimanta Sankardev University of Health Sciences in association with Indian Yoga Culture and Yoga Therapy Centre, Guwahati to promote yoga as a cultural heritage of India. This seminar has been organized to mark the 10th International Day of Yoga to be celebrated on 21 June. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that yoga has a positive impact in people’s life. Yoga awakens the feeling of kindness and compassion in a person, which inspires him to serve humanity. The Governor further said that in modern times, yoga is understood as a system of exercise and therapy for health and fitness. However, the purpose of yoga is not just physical and mental health benefits, but much more than that. He also said that scholars around the world have accepted that the practice of yoga leads not only to physical and mental development but also to moral development. Yoga also awakens family values and beliefs in the individual. Therefore, by practicing yoga, qualities like love, compassion, empathy and morality develop in a person and it is through such qualities that a healthy family and society is developed, the Governor added. The Governor moreover, said that a healthy citizen leads to a healthy family and a healthy and cultured family leads to the establishment of an ideal society. The country will move forward on the path of development only through an ideal society. Therefore, yoga practice has a direct impact on the development of society and country. Shri Kataria also said that Yoga is a priceless gift of ancient Indian culture. The history of yoga is thousands of years old and that yoga was practiced ever since civilization began. In Yoga Vidya, Lord Shiva is considered the first Yogi, the first Guru or Adi Yogi. He also said that, Apart from Maharishi Patanjali, many sages and yoga masters have made important contributions to the conservation and development of this region through yoga practices and yogic literature. The Governor also observed that from the perspective of Yoga, India has emerged as a ‘soft power’. For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed to celebrate ‘Yoga Day’ on 21st June at the international level in the General Assembly of the United Nations. The proposal received support from more than 170 countries of the world which led to the declaration of International Day of Yoga on every 21 June. Dean of Academy, AIIMS, Guwahati Prof. Mansi Bhattacharya; Principal, Gauhati Medical College Dr. Achyut Chandra Baishya; Dean, Srimanta Sankardev University of Health Sciences Prof. Pankaj Adhikari; President of Indian Yoga Culture and Yoga Therapy Centre Yogacharya Shubhashish along with a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.