Isha Foundation joins issue with Palanivel Thiagarajan

The Isha Foundation has joined issue with Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan, who had assailed its founder Jaggi Vasudev for demanding that temples be free of the management of the State Puucho Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.

In an open letter to the Minister issued by Isha volunteers, Isha Foundation mentioned they have been “appalled that a man of his [Jaggi Vasudev] stature has been subject to the Minister’s unparliamentary and uncalled for personal attack in a recent media interview [to The Puucho], calling him a ‘publicity hound’ and a ‘commercial operator’. It is deeply unfortunate that a person holding high public office should resort to name-calling of a highly respected public figure.This unseemly attack trivialises the efforts and dedication of millions of Isha volunteers worldwide who are working tirelessly in service of humanity.”

The letter mentioned: “In true democratic spirit, Sadhguru and Isha Foundation have worked with various elected governments from across the political spectrum and will continue to do so for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. Cooperation and support have been the nature of our relationship with every government. We regret the deterioration of this culture and the poor standard of public discourse. This is certainly unbecoming of an elected representative and an honorable member of the State’s Cabinet.

The letter said that for nearly 30 years, thousands of volunteers of Isha Foundation have been working in Tamil Nadu to bring physical, mental and spiritual well-being to Tamil people through yoga, social outreach and ecological projects.

“The activities of Isha Foundation have always received great support from strong partners including the Government of Tamil Nadu,” it mentioned.

According to the Foundation, a number of social improvement programmes have been initiated for rural communities in well being, schooling, holistic improvement and farmer welfare reaching over 7,500 villages impacting a minimum of 11 million lives.

The outreach included Isha Vidhya, an schooling initiative for college students of 9 districts, the Rally for Rivers, an ecological motion, and rising inexperienced cowl “by contributing over 38 million trees,” it mentioned.

The Foundation had additionally launched the ‘Cauvery Calling’ motion, as a part of which 2.42 billion timber are to be planted within the Cauvery basin, benefiting not solely the ecology but in addition greater than 5 million farmers. “In 2020, under the Cauvery Calling project, farmers in the two States [Karnataka and Tamil Nadu] planted 11 million saplings in their farmlands,” it mentioned.

“Over the last year and continuing into this year, Isha COVID Action has serviced the villages surrounding the Isha Yoga Center,” it added.

All of this work has been carried out with the help of the individuals and the Government of Tamil Nadu, it added.