Highlighting the importance of independent and self-reliant economic units Yoga guru Baba Ramdev stressed that, “The impact of mechanisation has not been for the benefit of this nation”. Speaking at the Vichar Kumbh conference, on the sidelines of the Simhastha Kumbh Mahaparv, recently, he added, “India’s farmers and craftsmen have suffered because of large businesses run by multi-national companies”. The Yoga guru also spoke against branding. “The trend for branded goods has a polluting effect — instead of wearing branded shoes, for example, we should commit ourselves to buying footwear made in our villages by local shoesmiths.”
Baba Ramdev suggested that the focus should be on encouraging small and medium scale industries. “If we can promote our cottage industries, then we can force the MNCs into a sirsasana (headstand) and bring swadeshi industries to the shirsh (peak)”, said Baba Ramdev, with reference to a common Yoga position that resembles a headstand, wherein the body in an inverted position.
Baba Ramdev runs the Ayurvedic FMCG giant Patanjali which has grown from strength in recent years. In 2015-2016, Patanjali’s turnover grew 150 per cent to more than Rs5,000 crore, and the Yoga guru has publicly challenged established multi-national players in the field such as Nestle, Colgate-Palmolive and HUl. His deputy and managing director of Patanjali, Acharya Balkrishna, has also said that the company is looking to increase its exports and strengthen its presence abroad.
At the conference, Baba Ramdev also reiterated his plans to invest Rs500 crore on cow protection and development research centres. Four such centres are in the works and they will be set up in different parts of the country.
The centres will focus on saving and promoting the country’s native breeds — many of which are dying out. In previous decades, the Government had brought and cross-bred foreign breeds in a bid to significantly increase cow productivity.
However, this has had only limited impact as the foreign breeds are yet to adapt to Indian conditions. Some have to be kept in air-conditioned sheds, putting them beyond the reach of small farmers.
Speaking on similar lines, controversial environmentalist Vandana Shiva also took a strong stand against multinationals particularly in the agro sector. She highlighted a vicious cycle of chemicals usage in the fields and urged the Government to take action against irresponsible chemical manufacturers instead of merely advising farmers to exercise caution.
later in the evening, Jaggi Vasudev also participated in a freewheeling interview with journalist Bhavdeep Kang. He focused on the right way of using technology - that is through the consciousness, urging people to not lose touch with their inner self. In reference to recent reports of a 70-year-old woman from Haryana having her first baby after going through IVF treatment, the spiritual leader said that it was important to focus on population control. “A woman who is in good health but chooses not to have a baby is taking an important step towards saving the future. She deserves an award,” said the Sadhguru.