From NASA to VYASA!

Nandini Sarkar probes the mind of Dr H R Nagendra, the founder of a yoga institute, who has revolutionised the concepts of health and healing globally while miraculously treating innumerable terminally ill patients

- Nandini Sarkar

This is the Super 30 story of a brilliant Indian scientist turned rishi. Call it destiny or a chance encounter, our meeting with the saint-scientist, Dr. HR Nagendra, president, VYASA (Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana), was like a journey into thrilling space. Padma Shri Dr. Nagendra is known as the yoga guru of our prime minister, Shri Narendra Modi. However, his contribution to the art of healing goes way beyond that. VYASA’s research on cancer and diabetes cure through yoga has won global recognition and funding. He also states that he has yogic cures for every possible disease. This ex-NASA rishi’s work has become the living Upanishads, to inspire modern man, who is suffering from so many harmful-lifestyle-induced diseases. My husband, Sushobhan, was introduced to Dr. Nagendra by Professor Akhilesh, dean, Management Studies, IISc, Bengaluru. They were together at IIT Guwahati, at the invitation of the director, Dr. Manjunatha, who plans to promote yoga there. Intrigued by the rishi-scientist’s pioneering research and impressed with his humility, Sushobhan decided to visit him at his Bengaluru VYASA campus. So, there we were, the very next month, sitting in a spacious verandah, waiting for Dr. Nagendra. Monsoon winds blew all around us, keeping us cool. Large clusters of trees and vegetation kept our sights refreshed. Finally, in all-white attire, the curly-haired, soft-spoken, and unassuming HRN emerged from his private enclosure to greet us. He showed us a news clipping of the previous day, with the governor of Chandigarh at a yoga event and readily agreed to be interviewed for Life Positive magazine.

Could you tell us a little about your childhood? You are now 76 years old and the founder of this huge Vyasa university. Your research on the