Yesterday I was amused seeing Mary Kom propagating the ‘Peace of Mind’ through Yoga on National TV channels and it immediately connected me to few articles, I had read in Nagaland dailies, on Yoga written by our eminent thinkers. It seems we in Nagaland are anti yoga- for it is not a Christian thing to do. If I take that logic forward, then 30 million Americans who practice yoga are either not Christians or have converted into Hinduism. The Baptist Clergy’s effort to keep its flock together can be understood, but by belittling an ancient exercise regime which has given endurance, physical and mental well being to the humanity is being outright ridiculous and shows how a restricted view we have of our faith, how much less faith we have in our Christian hood and scientific progress. If this unique ancient Indian science has been subscribed by West, we Nagas who ape western culture in almost everything should also do the same, due to the benefits accrued and not the coloured narrow lense of religion. If world adopts yoga it’s not that they have become lesser ‘Christians or Muslims’, but they have adopted the benefit of an age old Indian wisdom. Unless we all are planning to ban our North Eastern icon Mary Kom and ex-communicate her for being heretic or in satanic yogic influence. Will our esteemed thinkers throw some light instead quoting some religious texts that why yoga should not be practiced.
Roko Angami Dimapur
