I was appointed as a Yoga Pracharak... there is no turning back to my work

Mutum Ashini *

International Yoga Day at HRD Academy, Imphal on 21st May 2017 :: Pix - Tony Kshetrimayum

"After I was appointed as a Yoga Pracharak in January this year, there is no turning back to my work , Bijaya said.

She seems younger than her age, may be a little over 20 years was what I presume. Her visit to our office is to inform us about her works as I am working in a daily newspaper. Whether the report got published or not is not what she bothers, but telling me about his activities of the day has become her routine work. I was reluctant in publishing report of her activities at first as I had seen many people who use newspaper as a tool for publicity of their activities which were not even conducted.

That morning when she visited me, I notice her face reddish with sweats streaming from her forehead, her white shirt and trouser had been coloured by dried mud and I understand that she came to my office after attending some hard work.

By profession she is Yoga Pracharak working under Bharat Swabhiman Trust & Patanjali Yoga Samiti and her activity is not only guiding and promoting Yoga among the people of the state but also organizing plantation programme to filter the polluted air is also her part of work. In her last visit to office, two days back, I was surprised to learn that she is now 38 years crossing.

"I don't believe you, you looks around 20 plus", that was my response.

With a smile she told me that perhaps her Yoga therapy helps her keep young. Like I said, most people whom she met never believe that is over 37 years old, she told me.

Well the Yoga Pracharak is none other than Pukhrambam Bijaya Devi of Pishum Thong Ningom Leirak, here in Imphal West. Of the six offspring, she is the fourth daughter of Pukhrambam Priyokumar and Pukhrambam Ongbi Memchoubi Devi.

" During my college and University days my health was a laughing stock of my friends, I suffer some kind of illness many times and I was very weak comparing with my friend", Bijaya told me.

She often pray to the almighty to keep her health okay as she sometime felt desperate on seeing her mother worried. It was during March 2015, that a Yoga camp was organized in her locality. She joined the camp with her mother.

"My health and worried slowing parted and I know the almighty has heard me", Bijaya said.

It was during the Yoga camp that I joined the Bharat Swabhiman Trust & Patanjali Yoga Samiti.

"I don't know how my health changes, I become very active and never felt tired of working or doing something for the people", Bijaya said and added that she had than decided to make every member of the society healthy.

Lucks plus hard work help Bijaya, she was selected as Yoga Pracharak during a selection test conducted at the Head office of the Bharat Swabhiman Trust & Patanjali Yoga Samiti on December 17, 2017.

Since then she along with her colleagues had organized as many as 40 camps of awareness campaign for promotion of Yoga as well as plantation programme of sapling at various places including school compound till today. Some of the places she had conducted yoga camp cum plantation programme are Hiyangthang, Malom, Langthabal, Chingtham Leikai, Haobam Marak Uripok Waheng Leikai etc. in Imphal West district.

"We always associated plantation of sapling programme with our Yoga campaign as we felt it important for a healthy environment", Bijaya said.

For a girl in Manipuri society, it is a big challenge to go out from morning till late in the evening. But for Bijaya , it was the support of her mother Memchoubi which encourage to every of her work.

She wake up at 4 am daily and started visiting her office at Wahengbam Leikai where she guided the new yoga lovers. Later, after completing the work she would visit schools to promote Yoga and the need for healthy environment to students.

Bijaya completed her Master degree in Manipuri Subject from Manipuri University. She started her education from KhaImphal Government high school and later did class XII and Graduation at GP Women College.

"I Will keep continuing my service to make all the people of the state spend a healthy life", Bijaya said before she left our office to take another Yoga class at some school.