Yoga has become a gateway for the world to know India, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated during the golden jubilee celebrations of Prashanti Kutiram, in Bengaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: - “Yoga has become a gateway for the world to know India,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Bengaluru on Friday, describing yoga as “the biggest health gift that comes at zero cost.”Mr. Modi, who was in Bengaluru to attend the golden jJubilee celebrations of Prashanti Kutiram at S-VYASA University and the birth centenary celebrations of former RSS general secretary H.V. Sheshadri, said that over the last 12 years, India had presented its culture, identity, knowledge and science before the world with “full confidence.” The growing global reach of yoga was one example of this, he said. Pointing to the growing interest in yoga across countries, he said that this had increased people’s curiosity about India’s culture and traditional knowledge.Yoga Day across world“Following India’s initiative, the world now celebrated International Yoga Day, with programmes held from Australia to Africa and America and crores of people taking part. Saudi Arabia had recognised yoga as a sporting activity, and its Sports Ministry had signed an agreement with India’s Ministry of Ayush to promote it,” Mr. Modi said.Recalling his interactions with foreign leaders, Mr. Modi said yoga almost always came up during lunches and dinners with them. “Yoga is the biggest health gift that comes at zero cost”Narendra ModiPrime MinisterReference to RajkumarReferring to Karnataka’s contribution to yoga, Mr. Modi said the State had been a centre of the practice for centuries, with several yoga teachers and scholars born here and contributing to the tradition. He also referred to Kannada cinema legend Dr. Rajkumar, saying he had served yoga alongside his work in the field of art. Mr. Modi also spoke about the government’s efforts to take Ayurveda and yoga to more people. More than 150 Ayurveda training courses had been recognised in different countries and memoranda of understanding had been signed with 28 countries to support its expansion. The government had introduced the Ayush Visa to make it easier for foreign nationals to come to India for treatment. “For the first time since Independence, a separate Ministry of Ayush had been set up,” he said.Exports of Ayush products were steadily increasing and the economy associated with the sector had grown to several lakh crore rupees. “Turmeric, which Indian families had used in food and household practices for generations, was seeing a growing demand across the world. To give a boost to turmeric production, quality and exports, the government had set up the National Turmeric Board,” he highlighted. 50 crore out of ‘extreme poverty’Mr. Modi said India must share the benefits of its ancient sciences and modern research with humanity while also creating opportunities for young people in these fields. Referring to a recent World Bank report, he said nearly 50 crore Indians had come out of “extreme poverty” over the past 12 to 13 years. These families now had new opportunities for a better life. Making a healthy lifestyle a priority for every family was important, and yoga could play a major role in this, he said. “Yoga brought rog mukti (freedom from disease) as well as bhog mukti (freedom from material indulgence),” he added. Paying tribute to Sheshadri on his birth centenary, Mr. Modi said he had devoted his life to the mission of vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman (nation-building through individual development). Sheshadri understood that for India to reach greater heights, it needed “dedicated, capable and disciplined” citizens. He gave himself completely to preparing such citizens, and the goals he pursued through his work in the RSS continued to inspire crores of swayamsevaks, he said. Mr. Modi said Sheshadri was known for his simple nature. Despite his stature and experience, he remained humble, stayed behind and brought others forward. “Sheshadri often gave the example of a mother who stayed awake through the night to care for her child and worked without any selfish motive. If the same feeling was extended to society, it would benefit greatly,” he said. Published - November 13, 2026 06:54 pm IST