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Paramhansa Yogananda: India’s first yoga guru in the US
If India’s idea of an International Yoga Day has found easy acceptance in the UN, much of the credit must go to Paramhansa Yogananda, India’s first yoga guru in the US whose 62nd death anniversary falls this Saturday.
Unlike Swami Vivekananda, Yogananda is not that widely appreciated although he played a huge role in laying the foundation for yoga in the United States a century ago.
Yogananda, born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India, sailed to the US in 1920 and remained there until his death in 1952. In that sense, he was also one of India’s earliest longest serving NRIs.
Yogananda toured the US extensively, teaching meditation and Kriya Yoga to tens of thousands of American men and women in packed halls.
Unlike now, that was no easy task. Yoga was unknown in the West, and many Americans looked down upon Hindu holy men, yogis included.
The Kriya Yoga is a lesser-known yoga science based on special breathing techniques to help in self-realisation.
Yogananda left the US to visit India only once, during which period he taught Kriya Yoga to Mahatma Gandhi at the latter’s ashram in Wardha.
What really made Yogananda an iconic figure globally was his “Autobiography of a Yogi”, declared one of the 10 greatest spiritual classics of the last century.
Since it was first published in the US in 1946, the book became an instant hit, got translated into over 20 languages worldwide and has sold millions of copies. It remains a bestseller.
After his autobiography was published, Yogananda spent the last years of his life devoting himself to literary work. He withdrew more and more from public life.
During this period, he edited and revised his earlier books. Shortly before he died, Yogananda told a disciple: “My life work is done.”
On March 7, 1952, Yogananda was a speaker at a banquet hosted by the Indian Association of America in honour of India’s ambassador to the US, Binay Ranjan Sen, at the Baltimore Hotel in Los Angeles.
Those at the venue noticed that Yogananda did not have his usual heart warming smile. He didn’t laugh too at the amusing anecdotes in the various speeches. An aura of strangeness appeared to surround him.
In a short and memorable speech, Yogananda said: “Somewhere between the two great civilizations of efficient America and spiritual India lies the answer for a model world civilization.”
As he came towards the end of his speech, Yogananda became surprisingly emotional. His close followers would later recall that he knew he was about to pass away.
“I am proud that I was born in India,” he said, and recited a poem that read in part:
“Mortal fires may raze all her homes and golden paddy fields;
Yet to sleep on her ashes and dream in mortality,
O India, I will be there!”
As he finished the poem, Yogananda slid to the floor and died, a beatific smile on his face. The yoga master had often said: “I do not wish to die in bed, but with my boots on, speaking of God and India.”
A devastated Indian ambassador paid his tributes: “He (Yogananda) was born in India, he lived for India, and he died with the name of India on his lips.”
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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