India Proposed UN Resolution on Yoga Gets Overwhelming Response: 130 Countries Pledge their Support

It was at the UN General Assembly in September this year that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a call for an International Yoga Day. So overwhelming has been the response to this India proposed UN resolution that in a short time period of just 2 months, 130 countries of the world have given their support to this resolution. These countries have signed as co-sponsors of this resolution.

Unprecedented support to India’s draft resolution

The resolution was drafted by India and informal conversations that Indian delegation at the UN has had in the last 2 months has confirmed the fact that 130 countries from around the world have not only showed interest but also expressed a desire for an International Yoga Day. This is of course because of the efforts made by the Indian Mission at the UN as they disseminated information about the benefits of this ancient Indian practice for meditation and health. Sources say that 130 countries becoming cosponsors of a resolution is a record of sorts in the General Assembly.

This draft resolution would come up for ratification on December 10 ay UN General Assembly. It would urge the member countries of the 193 member UN body to accept this resolution and start observing a day as International Yoga day every year.

Modi gave a call to the world to embrace Yoga

In September, Modi had urged the world community to realize the health benefits of Yoga and to embrace it for a better health and lifestyle. He had said that practicing Yoga creates inner consciousness that would ultimately help the world in combating climate changes and the growing menace of pollution. “Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being,” Modi said at UN General Assembly address in September this year. It is worthwhile to mention in this context that PM Modi is himself an ardent fan of Yoga and practices it daily. He considers himself as a disciple of Swami Vivekananda who popularized this ancient Indian practice and introduced it to the western world a century ago.

June 21 is the day that this draft resolution proposes as International Yoga Day. This resolution recognizes the need for spreading awareness about the health benefits of Yoga on the body and the mind of the practitioner. The resolution urges the member countries of this world body to encourage people in their countries to wake up to the benefits of Yoga and to embrace it in their daily lives.

Daily practice of yoga in the form of asanas of poses, and breathing techniques called Pranayamas, brings immense health benefits to the individual, physical as well as emotional and psychological. Perhaps therein remains the appeal and attraction of this draft resolution that would ultimately lead to an International Yoga Day. It is not just small and countries on the brink that have come out openly in support of this resolution. Even the 5 most powerful countries of the world that are permanent members of UN security council (US, Russia, France, Germany, and China) have pledged their support to this draft resolution.