This interview with Baba Ramdev was recorded on September 9, 2020.
From Rishi to Krishi, From Yog to Udyog– Baba Ramdev describes his amazing and awe-inspiring life journey amidst motivated attacks by vested interests. No other leader has played such a vital role in improving people's physical & mental health on such a grand scale as Swami Ramdev. His contribution in empowering ordinary people to become guardians of their own health is truly historic. But Swami Ramdev is not just a Yog Guru. He is an institution builder par excellence. Yog Rishi Ramdev is also the pioneer of Make in India movement much before Modi government gave this slogan. Along with Acharya Balkrishna, he has built a vast manufacturing empire worth 5 billion US dollars while not claiming any personal ownership in the entire enterprise. This also includes highly successful TV channels. Most important of all this empire is built on the foundations of India’s Sanatan wisdom –namely Ayurved, Yog and study of classical texts as a guide to creating a healthy society. This unique business model in which Baba has no personal stake has effectively destroyed the monopoly of several multinationals in daily consumer products as well as posed the most powerful challenge to the scam ridden western pharmaceutical industry. It is remarkable how Yog Rishi Ramdev has taken Vedic & Shastric wisdom to the masses in their own language and idiom. His yoga sessions on TV are rich with wisdom of rishi munis of yore. His discourses are full of quotations from Vedas, from Shastras, the songs and verses of our leading sants—Nanak, Kabir, Mira bai, Sant Tukaram and countless others plus rustic muhavraas and kahaavats. The educational institutions created by Baba Ramdev he has created are training a whole new generation of Sanskrit scholars. No less important is his role in helping Indian farmers move away from the Nehruvian trap of producing high in volume but low in value PDS crops—such as rice and wheat-. Instead, he has given millions of farmers the opportunity to produce low volume but high-value medical herbs for the global market through Patanjali. In short, Baba Ramdev takes us on the road to #Swaraj. And he has done all of this single-handedly, without any godfathers or dubious sources of funding—that too against heavy odds. Equally important is the role of Baba Ramdev in inculcating patriotic values among Indians through his widely televised Yog sessions, including his anti-corruption crusade. It is well known that Baba played a major role in preparing the ground for the emergence of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister in 2014. Yog Rishi Ramdev is one of the finest examples of a Karmayogi. From Krishi to Rishi, From Yog to Udyog- His life journey has been both amazing and awe-inspiring! Despite facing vicious attacks from vested interests, Baba remains an incurable optimist with childlike enthusiasm in every moment he lives. This is why he energizes everyone whoever comes into his contact. What Baba Ramdev has to say about his commitment to reviving the spirit of swadeshi has a lot of lessons for “Mission Make In India”. Those of you who are interested in having a glimpse of the well equipped modern research laboratory set up by Patanjali to taste the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicine should view these videos- Links:
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN_AG…
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIXlp…
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQh1j…
Link for part 2 of the interview: Swami Ramdev in conversation with Madhu Kishwar| Part-2|
