Swami Ramdev

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Swami Ramdev
Born Ramkishan Yadav
1965
Haryana, India
Nationality Indian
Known for Efforts in proliferation of Yoga and Ayurveda.
Occupation Yogi

Swami Ramdev (Hindi: स्वामी रामदेव 1965 - ), also known as Baba Ramdev, is an Indian, Hindu swami. He is particularly well-known for his efforts in popularizing Yoga. His yoga camps are attended by a large number of people. People follow his yoga camps through TV channels and video. He is also one of the founders of the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust that aims to popularize Yoga and offer Ayurvedic treatments.

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Ramdev was born as Ramkishan Yadav in 1965, in Alipur in the Mahendragarh district of Indian state of Haryana. He attended school till the eighth grade in Shahjadpur. He then joined a gurukul in Khanpur village to study Sanskrit and Yoga. Eventually, he renounced worldly life and entered into Sanyas (monastic living) - taking his present name.

He then went to Jind district and joined the Kalva gurukul and offered free Yoga training to villagers across Haryana.

Ramdev spent many years undertaking an study of ancient Indian scriptures. At the same time, he also practiced intense self-discipline and meditation[1].

In 1995, Ramdev established Divya Yoga Mandir Trust with Acharya Karamveer and Acharya Balkrishna. Acharya Karmaveer is well-versed in Yoga and Veda while Acharya Balkrishna is a physician with a degree in Ayurveda[1].

He has also founded the Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust, an institution for treatment and research in Yoga and Ayurveda, in Haridwar. The trust provides several free services to all visitors[2].

Ramdev has taught several aspects of traditional Indian scriptures such as Ashtadhyayee, Mahabhashya and Upanishads along with six systems of Indian Philosophy in various Gurukuls[citation needed]. He has helped establish Gurukuls in Kishangarh, Ghashera, and Mahendragarh in India.

His educational show is broadcast on the religious TV channel Aastha, as well as shows on Zee network,Sahara One and IndiaTV.[3].

He has been regularly conducting yoga camps all over India and even abroad.

Over the years Swami Ramdev has been involved in several controversies.

In March 2005, about 113 employees of the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust started an agitation for minimum wages, coverage under the Provident Fund and Employees' State Insurance schemes. At a tripartite meeting, an agreement was reached between the workers, management and the district administration. However, some agitating workers were dismissed by the Trust after being charged for alleged sabotage. Their case was taken up by a trade union controlled by Communist Party of India (Marxist); they are yet to be reinstated. [5][6].

Building on the labour demands, New Delhi based Brinda Karat, a CPI(M) leader and wife of CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, called a press conference alleging unhealthful manufacturing practices in the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust pharmacy. She also accused the pharmacy of using animal and human parts in the manufacture of their ayurvedic medicines[6]. Though ayurvedic texts allow the uses of such substances in the manufacture of some of the ayurvedic medicines, this violated, according to Brinda Karat, the laws related to proper labeling of medicines.

In January 2006, the Indian Member of Parliament Brinda Karat accused Divya Yog Mandir Trust Pharmacy, owned by Ramdev, of using human and animal bones in their medicines. She based her accusations on a report produced an Indian health ministry laboratory. She also claimed that a sample of the medicine (Kuliya Bhasm and Yauvanamrit Bati, purchased from Brahmakalp Chikitsalay, which is the Trust's hospital at Haridwar) was tested at government labs which later confirmed the presence of animal materials in the sample. She exhibited the prescription and cash receipt obtained from the medicine counter in support of her claim[7].

Four samples sent to the government-recognized research center (Shriram Institute of Industrial Research, Delhi) were reported as indicating that the medicines contained no objectionable ingredients and were purely herbal [8].

Swami Ramdev was subsequently cleared of these charges[8].

In 2006, Swami Ramdev made the following comment

I am a follower of penance, sacrifice, non-violence and truth. 
But I am also a follower of revolutionaries. I live a simple life. 
I don't do what everyone else does. But I believe that the freedom of 
our country is because of the sacrifice of martyrs. If somebody says 
that the country achieved independence without arms, without bloodshed, 
I believe that is an insult to the country's martyrs.

These statements sparked a rage in Gandhi's followers, mainly activists of the Congress Party. They charged Ramdev with insulting the Father of the Nation. Youth workers of the Congress burnt posters of Ramdev and shouted slogans against him.[9]

In December 2006, press reports claimed that Ramdev had made claims of being able to use Yoga to cure AIDS.

A website promoting his products states that the CD4 cell count in some AIDS patients has improved after practising Yoga.[10]. This statement was translated by certain journalists as claiming a cure for AIDS[11].

As a consequence of these press reports he was sent a cease and desist order by the Indian Union Health Ministry and threatened legal action from medical NGOs[12]. Ramdev responded by saying that he had been misquoted[13]. His position was that Yoga and Ayurveda together can alleviate the suffering from AIDS, not cure it[14]. He also added that Yogic education was preferable over sex education in response to the AIDS crisis[15].
Swami Ramdev [16].

Other press reports quoted him as claiming to have a cure for cancer of the breast, liver, prostate, uterus, pituitary gland, brain tumours and leukaemia by practicing the seven breathing exercises. They also said that he claimed to have documented proof of his successes[17].

  1. ^ a b Swami Ramdev. knowyoga.org. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  2. ^ Patanjali Yog Peeth. knowyoga.org.
  3. ^ Swami Ramdev on TV. knowyoga.org.
  4. ^ Doctorate degree for Yoga Guru Ramdev. punjabnewsline.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  5. ^ Frontline In the name of Ayurveda. The Hindu.
  6. ^ a b How Karat-Ramdev War began. ExpressIndia.com.
  7. ^ Guru accused of 'human bone' drug. bbc.co.uk.
  8. ^ a b Yogi cleared of animal parts row. bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ Baba Ramdev invites wrath of Indore Gandhians for remarks on Mahatma Gandhi. Webindia123.
  10. ^ Ayurvedic Herbs for control of HIV, AIDS & any Sexually Transmitted Diseases. yogapranayama.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  11. ^ Baba Ramdev’s website claims AIDS is curable. dnaindia.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  12. ^ Yoga effect on AIDS? Baba has 'proof'. moneycontrol.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  13. ^ I made no claims of curing AIDS: Ramdev. expressindia.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  14. ^ I never claimed I can cure AIDS: Ramdev. dnaindia.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  15. ^ Yoga can cure AIDS: Ramdev. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.
  16. ^ Swami Ramdev: Ramdev. www.yogapranayama.com/Swami_Ramdev_Biography.htm.
  17. ^ I'll stay away from politics: Ramdev. ibnlive.com. Retrieved on 21 March 2007.

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