Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday advocated the utility of yoga in not only boosting personal health but also acting as a catalysing agent in opening up the path for world peace.
Modi's remarks, against the backdrop of multiple conflicts and geopolitical tensions across the world, came across as an argument that yoga, an ancient Indian practice, holds relevance beyond personal health and wellness, with the potential to promote collective peace and harmony across societies.
Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the iconic Red Road in Kolkata, amid thousands of participants, Modi underscored the need for a balanced personal lifestyle that yoga teaches, and the need to embrace the tradition across all ages.
The prime minister quoted the Bhagavad Gita to state that a balanced lifestyle involving work, nutrition and sleep is the key to eradicating suffering, which yoga can guide people to.
"That balance is yoga's basic crucible, just as it is the crucible of our lives," Modi said.
"Most people are struggling to maintain that balance in their modern lifestyle. Yoga teaches us the art of living our lives in a balanced manner; it teaches us dos and don'ts. When we learn to operate our bodies in the right manner, health becomes a habit," he added.
Stressing that yoga does not merely focus on physical health, but, in fact, helps in finding the path to physical fitness through mental health, the PM connected the individual to the global.
"The consciousness of identifying the dos and don'ts not only brings inner peace, it opens up the path to world peace. That's why yoga is not only required for our personal lifestyles, it is essential for a better future of this world," he said.
The prime minister's stress on yoga fostering balance, self-awareness and inner stability -- values, he said, that can help societies navigate divisions and discord -- comes at a time when several regions continue to grapple with wars, armed confrontations and diplomatic strains, underscoring India's longstanding emphasis on dialogue, coexistence and peaceful resolution of disputes.
"Let us pledge not to restrict yoga to only one particular day or to an event; rather, make it a part of our lives and that of our families and our future generations," he added.
Modi said yoga has become the world's largest community celebration, bringing people together across countries and cultures.
"June 21, which marks the longest day on earth, has now become the largest community celebration day because of yoga. Yoga brings people together. I congratulate the people of the world on this occasion," he said.
The PM also congratulated the people of Kolkata for pursuing the 'Swachhata se Swagat' initiative.
"I congratulate the people of Kolkata for their unwavering dedication and effort to make the 'Swachhata se Swagat' slogan into a mission and reality; their citizen duty has inspired the whole nation," he said.
Referring to this year's International Day of Yoga theme, 'Yoga for healthy ageing', Modi said the ancient practice plays a crucial role in promoting physical health, mental well-being and active ageing, thereby improving the quality of life.
"Yoga is not just physical exercise. It is not restricted to any age group. It is an expression of the human spirit," he said.
"With regular practice, yoga teaches us to remain lifelong learners of our own bodies and minds. The more we know about ourselves, the better we can manage ourselves. That is why the theme of 'yoga for healthy ageing' must be seen as one for people of all ages, not just for the elderly," he added.
Emphasising the importance of healthy ageing, Modi said efforts must be made to ensure that advancing age does not reduce human potential.
"When we speak of yoga for healthy ageing, we can work to ensure that age does not reduce human potential," he said.
"Our target is to be more flexible at 40 than we were at 20. We aim to be more energetic at 50 than we were at 30. Our target must be to be more resistant to lifestyle-related diseases at 70 than we were at 50. This is where yoga can help us," he added.
When society becomes healthy, the nation becomes more able, powerful and self-confident, the PM said.
The PM referred to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who, he said, believed that the true essence of humanity lies not in independent living but in connecting with the world around it.
"The fundamental idea of yoga is that connectivity. Maharishi Arabinda said yoga is in our life, whether we realise it or not. When yoga becomes part of our living, it becomes the cradle of human unity," Modi said.
Addressing the gathering at the first such event on a grand scale in the city, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari credited Modi for the achievement of “bringing yoga home", while stressing that the tradition of yoga had been practised in Bengal for over a century.
"Earlier, for reasons unknown, the previous state government was not connected to the massive event which the PM has spread across the globe. But we believe that the day is being observed across the state today because of the people who took a historic decision," Adhikari said, referring to the change of guard in the state's power corridors.
The CM said that organisations and institutions of the state made some 2.57 lakh registrations for participation in the event.
"I believe more than a crore people across West Bengal will take part in today's yoga celebrations, with participation numbers in Kolkata breaking all previous records," he said.
