The Madras High Court has struck down the false allegations against Isha Foundation Coimbatore after examining the report of the Principal District Judge
If the recent happenings are any pointer, the allegations against Isha Yoga Foundation in Coimbatore could be the one. After losing intellectual war with Hindutva by spreading falsehood on Hindu Dharma, its customs and practices, these elements have now put on a well orchestrated sinister design. Canard against Amarnath Cave Linga, case foisted against Art of Living and so on are the cases in points to prove our charge.
Back in Tamil Nadu, after unsuccessful attempts to convert villagers in Nagapattinam and Karur Districts, now they train their guns against the internationally acclaimed Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, located at the foot of the Velliangiri Hills in the Western Ghats, run by well known spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev.
On August 1, a retired professor Kamaraj and his wife approached the Coimbatore Collector alleging that their two daughters had been held captive at Isha Yoga centre near Coimbatore and were made ‘sanyasins’. Even he was not allowed to meet and talk to his daughters (Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu), who were M.Tech and B.Tech degree holders and holding good posts, he said. He expressed apprehensions about their safety.
It is alleged that the professor who had petitioned against Isha Centre is a hardcore left wing comrade and he has been running an NGO (NERD Scoiety) in his wife name. It was also banned by the Union Government like other NGOs for violating norms. It will now prove their intention behind moving to court against Isha Centre. Their daughters accepted sanyas seven years on their own will. “If he was really serious and bothered about his daughters’ welfare, he should have done it seven years ago,” points out a VHP activist. Close on the heels of the retired professor’s allegation, one Tamil Selvi complained that her son who returned from Singapore went straight to the Isha Yoga Centre with his head tonsured and became a sanyasi.
Through a press release, the foundation on August 5 refuted the allegations. “We would like to clearly state on record that all the above allegations of holding captives, brainwashing, and forcing individuals into sanyas or brahmacharya are absolutely false,” the foundation said. A spokesperson from Isha Yoga Centre said that the two women were not brainwashed into staying in the ashram and that they were well-qualified and capable of taking decisions by themselves. The spokesperson also said that the parents are welcome to visit their children. Our programmes are also open to all, irrespective of caste, religion, nationality, he added.
Meanwhile, the professor moved the Madras High Court with a habeas corpus petition. The Division Bench of Justices S Nagamuthu and V Bharathidasan dismissed the plea after examining the report of the Principal District Judge (PDJ), who had visited the Isha Yoga Center on August 10, to interview Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu. The Bench noted that the PDJ, “has categorically mentioned in his report that there is no truth in the allegation, and that the inmates are staying at the Foundation on their own will.” Striking down the baseless allegations made against the foundation, the bench said, “Prima facie, we are satisfied that they are staying on their own wish”. Citing the yoga centre’s assurance to the court, the judges said the parents could visit their daughters in Isha Foundation as and when they liked “without causing any disturbance to the peace of the detenu and the other inmates.”
“The Christian organisations
particularly a minority university and some Muslim outfits keen on grabbing the public land for which the Isha is a hindrance. Secondly, the Isha is
gaining popularity not only among Indian mass but also in foreign countries. Envious of the meteoric rise of the foundation in a short span of time, the want to play spoil sport by seeding rumours to tarnish its image and bring bad reputation. With this ulterior motive these elements brain washed the parents of the Ashram inmates to file petitions in Court”, a Hindu
organisation leader explained. Another Coimbatore based resident confided in confidence that Christian preacher Dinakaran, who claims that he is in communication with Jesus, has failed to attract people to his gatherings as people throng to Isha foundation. With the Union Government ensuring accountability and transparency in the foreign fund flow to these
missionaries and NGOs that are
struggling like fish out of water for their survival.
TS Venkatesan, Chennai
