When International Yoga Day was announced in the United Nations in the year 2014, it was a signal that a new world leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi had arrived at the global stage. As his brainchild, 21 June was adopted to commemorate International Day of Yoga every year and in its 11th edition this year, almost 200 countries have adopted this wellness practice, with significant benefits for the physical and mental well-being.
I recall that in the Indian Army, there was a distinct curiosity about Yoga. As far as physical fitness is concerned, Indian Army relies on intense physical training for about one hour every day in the morning. Another one hour is spent is the evening every day to play troop games like football, hockey and basketball. The physical training is based on set routine of activities which promote combat fitness. Therefore, initially it was difficult to include Yoga in the daily schedule of soldiers.
But after the very first Yoga Day held in the year 2015, all the hesitation to adopt Yoga as a full-time practice in the Army was gone. Indian Army has a separate Corps exclusively dedicated to physical training, called Army Physical Training Corps (APTC). The instructors of APTC quickly mastered all the Yoga techniques which are useful to our soldiers. Yoga was taught to the soldiers in the play grounds and training areas across the country. Soon, the practice of Yoga became a way of life for the soldiers and their families.
The benefits of Yoga in the Indian Army have been immense. I will quote just two examples. As Commandant of Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai, I introduced a daily period of Yoga in the training curriculum in the year 2020. I had to do it because we found that our cadets, both male and female, were suffering injuries during the intense physical activities at the academy. There was significant improvement in the healing of injuries once we adopted Yoga as a way of life in the academy. Even the level of injuries to the cadets came down drastically.
The second example relates to the training of Agniveers. Under the Agnipath Scheme, the training duration has been reduced but the physical standards to be achieved remain unchanged. As GOC of Madhya Bharat Area, Jabalpur in the year 2022, we had to conduct training of about 10,000 Agniveers of the first batch. Based on the experience of OTA Chennai, I insisted on adopting Yoga training as part of the curriculum. Considering the reduced availability of training duration, it was a challenge to find time for Yoga. But I am happy to state that our Agniveers benefitted by practicing Yoga and could overcome injuries much more quickly.
The benefits of Yoga are not restricted to physical fitness alone. Yoga offers great meditation benefits. The soldiers stay and operate from the remote areas of the country, be it the borders, Line of Control or Line of Actual Control. The practice of Yoga in their own time has been found extremely useful in reducing the stress levels. Even in the icy heights of Siachen Glacier, Yoga has been found to be extremely beneficial. Yoga is a great stress buster and I have observed that our soldiers have started enjoying the practice of Yoga, even when off duty.
Yoga has become extremely popular among the families and children of the Army. We invariably find sessions of Yoga being conducted for the families and children as part of welfare activity. All the schools run under the aegis of Indian Army have compulsorily adopted Yoga as part of the curriculum. All the units and establishments of the Army have created the right infrastructure for practice of Yoga through out the year. As an organisation where physical and mental well-being of the soldiers is critical to war fighting, I strongly believe that adopting Yoga in the Army has been a game changer.
As part of the nation building exercise, Army has provided Yoga instructors to a number of civil institutions. I recall that on 21 June 2023, the central event of Yoga was held in Jabalpur. PM Modi was in New York and he led the International Day of Yoga at the iconic North Lawns of UN Headquarters in New York. The function in Jabalpur was held at the Garrison Ground of the Army and it was presided over by Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President. That day, it appeared that the whole city was participating in the Yoga Day. The practice of Yoga was even reported from the airport, railway station and all public places. Today, such is the acceptance of Yoga in the country, cutting across all religions, that has really united the Indians in pursuit of well-being.
Indian armed forces are in a good position to be ambassadors of Yoga in the country. I also feel that the Indian armed forces can spread the message of Yoga as part of military diplomacy. The scientific approach of the Yoga is going to benefit the friendly foreign armies. We as a nation can make more concerted efforts to promote Yoga as a way of life under the Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). Yoga, thus, is another way of bringing the world together.
The theme for 11th Yoga Day is ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’. Indian Army promotes the best practices in environmental protection, cleanliness and green energy drive. Even when the Indian armed forces are committed in Operation Sindoor, they will celebrate the practice of Yoga for a strong mind in a strong body with total commitment to the national security. Jai Bharat!
