When lots of us think of yoga, we think of good feelings, stretching and relaxation and for many the communal glow of being bodily in synch with a roomful of others. Sadly that communal feeling is being used by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further his anti religious minority Nationalist cause that’s been changing the face of modern India to a less tolerant society.
“Why has yoga, in particular, become a central tenet of Modi’s Hindu nationalist agenda? Drawing on Wendy Brown’s (2006) theorization of “tolerance,” I consider how Modi’s yoga agenda has further entrenched the binary of the tolerant, “civilized” Hindu and the intolerant, “irrational” Muslim Other within the Indian national imaginary. In contrast to the notion of Muslims as militant, ideologically rigid, and intolerant (of difference), yoga performs the Hindu nation as flexible, yielding, open, and tolerant. With its benign, benevolent associations with health and well-being, mind-body harmony, and peace, Modi has mobilized yoga to obfuscate the increasing violence, inflexibility, and intolerance of difference under his administration. “*

I feel so lucky to have travelled there before his time in power and to have met, as at home in Canada, a diverse mix of people of different religions and backgrounds generally. I’m never as happy in insular groups..they have a way of breeding intolerance . I spent a lot of time in a small Hindu holy town and Hippie Mecca, Pushkar, Rajasthan, which despite being a neighbour to a Moslem holy place, Ajmer and the two religions not always seeing eye to eye, was overall a peaceful place when I was privileged to stay there. The last couple of years visiting this town of domed , whitewashed architecture surrounding a lake, Yoga classes were popping up here and there as offerings, sometimes led by visiting travellers, sometimes by locals. Having benefited from Yoga myself I saw this as a good thing.
Therefore I’m saddened to see the regimen that was apparently also used by some prominent Nazis to further division and fear/ hatred of non Hindus by the current Government.

Yoga being known for its philosophy of love and oneness, it’s tough to come to terms with it having been used by Nazis and now by Modi to further his unsavoury cause of Hindutva. As for the Nazis,”It’s hard to imagine, then, that yoga was recommended to death camp guards in Nazi Germany. But that’s exactly what historian and yoga expert Mathias Tietke found as he researched his new book, Yoga In National Socialism.
“It is associated with mental equilibrium, the search for wisdom and inner peace and is not considered to be about force or persecution,” Tietke told The Daily Mail. “Never the less, there is also this side to the history of yoga.””*

From the first time I arrived in Pushkar, having taken a local bus, packed full of people with colourful Rajasthani turbans and the women with arms covered in bracelets, embroidered, mirrored skirts, and both sexes with striking good looks, I fell in love with a romantic version of the place which local hotels, restaurants and Banjara musicians encouraged as it brought some helpful money to the area.

Stay anywhere long enough though and you’re bound to hear more of the politics and crazy making aspects of a culture. Still, it’s a place that will always be in my heart, even while now the formerly “ Shanti” or peaceful high street is now overrun by young men on loud motor scooters..a far stretch from the lone veggie seller and sleepy cow of my first visit many years ago.And despite its current political situation being one I’m at odds with. Saying that the BJP contribution to worsening COVID in India by promoting the enormous () Hindu Festival, the Kumbh Mela even while simultaneously prosecuting a smaller Moslem gathering,
means I don’t know if or when I’ll be back to see that wondrous landscape and the people there I grew fond of.

I know what’s in the news is far from everything and have travelled and lived in places at times that could have been dangerous. The mix of a deadly disease and deadly religious intolerance though isn’t tempting to me personally.
I so hope India will turn back to the true meaning of all leading religions..love, peace and wisdom.

* ChoreographingTolerance: Narendra Modi, Hindu Nationalism, and International Yoga Day , Anushka Kedhar, Race and Yoga, UC Berkeley
U Nationalism Tolerance
• Nazi Leaders Fascinated by Yoga ,YJ Editors, Yoga Journal

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56770460