Proatsahan: An endeavor to enhance life through Yoga

Objectives: Yoga literally means union - union of oneself with the rest of the existence. Yoga is about realizing the fact that our survival is a process that encompasses continuous transactions with nature. As we breathe, eat and drink we execute a transaction with nature since nature produces the air that we breath, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Unfortunately, we are unconscious about this fact. Speaking broadly, the objective of this practice is about bringing this very consciousness to us through Yoga so that we behave more responsibly towards ourselves and towards the nature around us. This would not only enhance our lives but would also create a better future for generations to come.

Planning and Implementation: Motivated by the motto of wellbeing of everyone, Patharkandi college has taken up the responsibility of spreading the message of Yoga to the masses.The NSS team of Patharkandi college under the guidance of its coordinator, Dr. Imam Uddin Ansari was assigned the responsibility of planning and implementation of this project. The team proposed the following strategies in this connection:
1. All the stakeholders of the college should incorporate Yoga in their daily life.
2. The members of the NSS team would reach out to the masses of the nearby villages to discuss issues pertaining to their health and to initiate them to Yoga.
3. The UNO has declared 21st June as the International Yoga Day. Every year, IYD is celebrated with great anticipation and involvement in many parts of the world. Aligned with this To celebrate International Yoga Day in a large scale manner at the college premises.

The Practice: The Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, in its order issued vide noD.O.No.14- 13/2018(CPP-II).dated 27 August, 2021.launched a new project under the title ‘Y- break’ and directed all Universities and affiliated colleges to entitle people of workplaces to go for a short duration of Yoga Protocol with a view to refresh, de-stress and refocus them with enhanced efficiency and productivity. The order further mentioned an android based application developed by the Ministry.

The college acted proactively to implement the order with an instruction to the NSS team to take necessary measures to ensure the order is implemented in its full merit. The following measures were subsequently adopted:
1. All the stakeholders of the college must install theY- break’ app and to practice the asanas mentioned therein with a possible exemption to those who do not have an android based phone. Such persons should come in touch with a member of the NSS team for their support and guidance.
2. The college identified a few nearby villages namely Manikpara, Ramdaspara, Rajbari and Hoitorkha under the scheme of adopted villages …………Regular visits to the aforesaid villages by the volunteers of NSS team was scheduled to conduct awareness programmes on Yoga and its benefits. The college also maintained a provision to invite the residents of these villages to the college premises on some rare occasions.
3. Every year, the college undertakes sufficient measures to celebrate the International Day of Yoga in an illustrious manner. In 2022, in connection with Azadi ka 75 amrit mohotsav, the college took up a fifteen day long programme to celebrate IYD. All the stakeholders of the college participated in the morning Yoga session led by the NSS volunteers and an expert in the field of Yoga specially invited for the occassion.

Challenges: The college faces the following challenges while implementing the aforesaid measures;
1. Given the fact that the college is located in the rural area, there is a persistent scarcity of electricity and internet facilities. This created havoc during the pandemic.
2. In Spite of the efforts by the college, the villagers develop a reluctance to incorporate Yoga in their everyday life. Their meager family income and lack of proper resources may be stated as possible reasons behind such unwillingness
3. During natural calamities, for instance, heavy rainfall and floods, the villages are submerged into water prohibiting the villagers from practicing Yoga.

Below we present some of the glimpses of this endeavor: