CORRESPONDENT, ASSAM TRIBUNE
AIZAWL, June 21: Mizoram today refrained
from observing the International
Yoga Day, but instead observed the closing
ceremony of a year-long Healthy Mizoram
Campaign, which was launched on the International
Yoga Day (June 21) last year.
Organised by the Assam Rifles, the campaign
was launched by former Mizoram
Governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma (retd).
The closing ceremony was attended by Lt
Gen AK Mishra (retd), Vice Chancellor of
the ICFAI University. The chief guest lauded
the efforts of the Assam Rifles towards
promoting a healthy lifestyle, especially in
the remote border areas of the State which
are devoid of basic medical facilities.
The Healthy Mizoram Campaign aims to
promote a natural, healthy and disease-free
lifestyle through exercise and naturopathy
among the general masses. More than
10,000 people have benefited from the
Statewide campaign under which the Assam
Rifles has conducted several health seminars,
medical camps, blood donation camps,
AIDS and drugs awareness campaigns and
other health-related events.
Ram Gopal Dixit, an expert in naturopathy
and neurotherapy and a consultant posted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, also attended
the closing ceremony along with
Army personnel, NGOs, students and representatives
from government departments.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, his Cabinet
colleagues and top officials of the State
Government, however, did not participate
in the Healthy Mizoram Campaign.
The World Yoga Day has been courted
controversy here with churches and influential
organisations in Mizoram calling for a
boycott of the day, citing incompatibility of
yoga with Christian beliefs.
In 2017, the State
Government decided to hold a ‘Healthy Mizoram
Campaign’ on the Yoga Day.
In 2016, when the Mizoram’s AYUSH
department planned to observe the International
Yoga Day, the Mizoram Kohhran
Hruaitute (church leaders) committee
urged Christians not to practise yoga as it
is not a part of Christianity and can dilute its
doctrines. The church leaders pointed out
they were not boycotting the Yoga Day, but
only asked their members to refrain from
practising yoga.
Last year, the central committee of the Young
Mizo Association (YMA), the apex body of the
Mizos, said it would not participate in the
‘Healthy Mizoram Campaign’ to be observed
coinciding with the International Yoga Day.
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