A Yogi fasts and then bolts
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 06 2011 -
BABA RAMDEV is a person who turned himself from a non entity into a TV personality who taught yoga. In the process he was also transformed into a tycoon.
For those who prefer viewing DD or ZTV he was a regular feature in the morning explaining that leading a life practicing yoga could alleviate all medical problems. During his discourses and demonstrations of yoga exercises he hardly spoke on the need of his methods to mingle or to coexist with the allopathic medicare system.
This made a tremendous appeal to the millions and millions of Indians who have no money to spare for medical treatment. Many tormented souls looked on Ramdev as a succour for their ailments.
Meanwhile, the financially savvy Swami made the best of a god given opportunity. He raked in millions as TV appearance fees apart from his legitimate shares from the various sponsors.
He belongs to the jet set and owns on 'ashram' in the Mauritius, a tiny coral island in the Indian ocean known for its magnificent white beaches, and exotic marine life. It is also known as a convenient place where very rich people land up. People who back in their countries would have a lot of explaining to do as to how they came about to becoming stinking rich within a short period of time.
Like all rich people Ramdev got bored of himself and started prying around looking for avenues where his Midas touch could rest on. Though the two cases may not be related the catalyst came in the form of an ex soldier and Gandhite, one Anna Hazare.
Hazare had become sick at the way corruption had eaten into the vitals of the system and he went on a fast unto death protest. The government did its best and succeed in persuading Hazare to give up his fast.
Within a few weeks after this ordeal. Ramdev decided to rattle the government by launching his own strike. The issue was black money. Ramdev says a staggering amount of ' 4 lakh crores exists as black money, and most of this amount is stashed away abroad. He went on an indefinite strike to continue until the government retrieved the amount. He was asked how did he come by to that enormously huge figure. He was reticent to disclose details.
Ramdev went ahead with his fast. He chose to establish camp at the Ram Lila grounds in New Delhi. Accordingly a mini tent settlement was set up. Since Delhi this season has experienced searing heat spells Ramdev decided to air condition the whole gold darned thing. Hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of his fans camped with him.
The national electronic media lapped up the extravaganza. The national electronic media is set up and organised by people who are very much smarter than those experts they interview or discuss with. If you watch their news channels daily your brain could become soft and unfit for active duty.
These people interrupt themselves during their interruptions. Luckily very few people in Manipur watch these whiz kids. For these people, fatigued by contriving scoops and breaking news Ramdev the yogi came on the scene as a balm to their self flagellated minds.
The government was in a quandary. How do you deal with an irritating yogi? So far, nobody had written anything on it. But the plot thickened when Anna Hazare announced he would join Ramdev's fast. Then the government acted, fast and decisively. Ramdev was told to pack up and leave Delhi. He was served a quit notice. He meekly left Delhi.
Ramdev is lucky he did not choose Imphal to launch his fasting protest. Here he would have been made to go on with his fast and then he would have been force fed for the rest of his living days. There are no cutting corners here.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.