Friday, March 10, 2006
National Geographic Channel (NatGeo) and Baba Ramdev
This article briefly deals with the issues that can come up during a Baba Ramdev training course of Pranayam (breating exercises).
National Geographic Channel celebrated Microkiller week in India. The programs were related to killer bacteria and viruses. The programs seemed to be well researched as they always are in case of a channel like NatGeo.
I happened to see a recent program on NatGeo which dealt with Tuberculosis (TB). The program was a story about a foreign national who visited India. On his visit he caught TB. The doctor gave him a course of antibiotics. He took the course partially as the symptoms of TB started to wither away thinking that his TB is cured. However, there were mutated bacterias still in his body. Since he did not take his full course, the TB bacterium survived. During his visit he learnt the breathing exercises in Yoga, known as Pranayam.
He then went back to his country thinking he had his TB cured by the antibiotics. With all noble intentions, he started to evangelize the science of Pranayam to his friends. Pranayam consists of breathing exercises supposed to keep a human mentally and physically fit.
However, in this case, the person was exhaling Mycobacterium TB. Within a month, the channel said, all the 5 people in the room caught TB.
I'm a great fan of Baba Ramdev. Baba Ramdev preaches Yog in India. Pranayam was always thought to be a divine art until Ramdev Baba popularised it to everyone and anyone in India who wanted to practise it. I regularly used to watch his television programs on Aastha channel and did the exercises he taught on television. Ramdev Baba's classes are filled with not 100 or 200 but by 10,000s of people at a time. The classes are conducted on huge grounds.
After viewing NatGeo program, I was a bit concerned about the implications of such a case on these classes. My friend had done Baba Ramdev's classes and he said there is no medical checkup prior to attending these classes.
The solution is not to do away with Pranayam class that benefits people more than it harms. Baba Ramdev must in this case be notified to take due cognisance of findings by such a reputed channel and its implications on his classes that we, people of India so much love.
Manish.
Comments:
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Good research. However, what you have said about Yoga classes, holds true for many such gatherings in day to day life. e.g. Big Corporate companies, cinema halls, restraunts, cricket/football grounds, schools, colleges, markets, shopping places and so on...
The point is, Baba conducting tests is a solution but is not a practical one. If he should take tests, then so should all the places mentioned above. After all, everyone breathes at all the above places, even if not as profusely as at the Yoga classes. And in fact, at many of the above places, people sit/stand/come quite close to each others' bodies as compared to the Yoga classes.
I think the best solution is to spread awareness amongst public to avoid visiting public places as much as possible when infected by a deadly spreading disease.
Cheers,
- Tosh
The point is, Baba conducting tests is a solution but is not a practical one. If he should take tests, then so should all the places mentioned above. After all, everyone breathes at all the above places, even if not as profusely as at the Yoga classes. And in fact, at many of the above places, people sit/stand/come quite close to each others' bodies as compared to the Yoga classes.
I think the best solution is to spread awareness amongst public to avoid visiting public places as much as possible when infected by a deadly spreading disease.
Cheers,
- Tosh
Agreed that the solution of making tests mandatory is before the course doesn't seem feasible.
Also, your suggestion of avoiding public places during an outbreak is perfect. However, this problem is before the outbreak.
Post outbreak care is easy. The problem is preventing a major outbreak if someone is infected since the TB bacteria survives in air.
Also, your suggestion of avoiding public places during an outbreak is perfect. However, this problem is before the outbreak.
Post outbreak care is easy. The problem is preventing a major outbreak if someone is infected since the TB bacteria survives in air.
Hey manish,
happened to read our post. set my grey cells thinking- u r absolutely right, certain contagious diseases can pass from one individual to another during such congregations like those that baba ramdev holds. Me thinks they can check out while registering if the person has any underlying problems or any past history of illnessess.. so that they can be seated seperately rather than with others.. like they do in my yoga class.. anyways thank you for putting across this angle.. and i dont know how cum i missed this episode coz i am an avid watcher of Microkillers..
happened to read our post. set my grey cells thinking- u r absolutely right, certain contagious diseases can pass from one individual to another during such congregations like those that baba ramdev holds. Me thinks they can check out while registering if the person has any underlying problems or any past history of illnessess.. so that they can be seated seperately rather than with others.. like they do in my yoga class.. anyways thank you for putting across this angle.. and i dont know how cum i missed this episode coz i am an avid watcher of Microkillers..
Yes Nina. Having different seating arrangements will alleviate this problem to certain extent. However, in a class like that of Baba Ramdev's where ten thousands of people attend at a time in huge grounds, this approach seems less feasible unless only small populace has a problem of infection.
Nice blog and Baba Ramdev ji is such a inspiration for all, stands for all Ayurveda and yoga activities. For more information click here: - baba ramdev.
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