Differently-Abled World Yoga Champion Humiliated By Officials At Haridwar Yoga University
At a time when India is leading the world in the field of Yoga, a differently-abled young boy, who has represented the country thrice at the international level and brought laurels in the ancient discipline＊s world championship, was subjected to obnoxious, demeaning and outrageous treatment by Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV), Haridwar, where he had gone to take admission in MA in Applied Yoga and Human Excellence.
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This treatment is being meted in a country whose Prime Minister Narendra Modi＊s proposal for a yoga day was recognised by the United Nations. In his first speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014, PM Modi had called for a recognised yoga day.
Tejasvi Kumar Sharma (22), who won a gold and silver medal in international Yoga championships at Hong Kong and Shanghai in China in 2011 and 2014 respectively, told Indiatimes, ※Since I am doing well in yoga, I thought an MA would help me establish myself better in the field. I applied to DSVV, which is a world famous university in yoga education. But I left the varsity with his my confidence crushed.§
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When he went for documents verification after clearing the entrance test and interview at DSVV, he had to face the outrageous behaviour of three male staffers of the university who allegedly passed snide comments and even went on to personally humiliate him as soon as they came to know that he till very recently was a student of JNU that was in the middle of the fierce debate on nationalism.
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Tejasvi, who was diagnosed with polio (poliomyelitis) at the age of nine with both legs afflicted, was awarded with BA (Honours) from JNU＊s Center for German Studies.
※＆Samanya jeevan men kya aap vishwas rakhte hain (Do you believe in simple living)?＊ It was the first question I was asked by one of the three men,§ said Tejasvi describing the discriminatory and hateful treatment meted out to him.
※I asked them to explain as I could not understand what they mean. He said ＆aap apne pahnawe aur balon se samanya vyakti nahin lagte (You don＊t appear to be a simple man with your dressing and hair style)＊,§ said Tejasvi who ※politely§ replied to them that he loves wearing long curly hair and casual clothes and there is nothing wrong in this.
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He was allegedly told that he will have to cut his hair if he wants to study at the university. He said after his clothing and personality, he was then ※targeted§ for his association with the JNU.
※JNU men to karanti hoti hai, tum yahan karanti to nahin laoge (People talk about revolution in JNU, hope you would not bring revolution here)? Our university (DSVV) is very different from JNU 每 JNU agar raat hai, to hum din (If JNU is night, we are the day). Zamin aur asman ka antar hai (There is a difference of the earth and the sky between us and the JNU). Yahan tumhen azaadi nahin milegi (You won＊t get freedom here)＊,§ another one from the group allegedly told Tejasvi mentioning the word ＆azadi＊ (a slogan often raised in JNU) was in a ※sarcastic§ tone.
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He further added soon after the second man finished the third started, saying ＆tum yahan tik nahin paoge (You won＊t be able to stay here)...yahan rule regulation bahut hain (We have so many rules and regulation)...hum do time hi khana dete hain (We give meals only twice a day)...yahan se bahar nahin ja paoge (You won＊t be allowed to leave the campus)...do saal yahin rahna hoga (You will have to stay inside the campus for two years)＊.
According to Tejasvi when they saw his certificates of participation in several yoga programmes in India and abroad, they told him ＆Aap yoga men bahut famous hain, bahar jate rahte hain (You are a famous performer of Yoga, you keep going abroad). Lekin yahan aapko yeh market band karna hoga (But you have to shut your business here)...tumhen zero hona padega (You have to become a zero)＊.
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He said he was asked to become clay, and that this varsity will mould.
One of them 每 Tejasvi said 每 told him the university does not teach Yoga Asanas (Yoga postures) which he is famous for. ※We only teach meditation for peace of mind,§ he said allegedly discouraging him to seek admission at DSVV.
He said he was shocked and felt insulted with the intimidating behaviour of the university staff. ※I spoke to my father who asked me not to let the erring staff go scot free to ensure that no other student of JNU faces such humiliation at any other educational institution in the country. It was not my insult only; rather it was an attack on entire JNU, which I cannot tolerate. JNU is my home, my family. I got here what I have not even imagined because of my disability and weak economic background,§ said Tejasvi adding that he avoided confrontation with the DSVV staff.
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※JNU has always been kind towards me. Friends and teachers here have always encouraged me to develop myself further in the field of Yoga. VC of JNU during my stay in the university was very generous. JNUSU and student organizations have always supported and encouraged my activities. I have been proud to be a JNUite. I don＊t know what people say about JNU and why. I only know that it has respected my talent,§ he added.
He asked if Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravishankar would also be asked to cut their hair if hair was a problem?
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※They call my yoga a market, but don't have a problem with Patanjali and Art of Living products. I can cut my hair if it goes against their culture, but can they deny me our constitutional freedom of speech? Why should there be no ＆azadi＊ in a university? Freedom of expression and free exchange of knowledge is the key to good education. Is this not India? Is this the country we live in?§ he said, adding that he has decided to speak up. ※I do not care if they cancel my admission after this. I will speak up for what is right,§ he added.
Giving clarification on the issue, DSVV Vice Chancellor Sharad Pardhy said there is rule that says students seeking admission here should have to their cut hair but yes there is a restriction on students to leave the campus. He assured a probe into the alleged incident and action against the erring officials.
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※Some staff may have behaved improperly. I will probe the allegation levelled and take action against those who are found guilty. There is no rule to cut hair. Since, it a residential campus with programmes that go on from morning to night, therefore students cannot leave the campus,§ he added.
Forget about a word of encouragement, he was humiliated earlier as well
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This is not the first time he was left disappointed and humiliated. The 22-year-old boy was selected for prestigious Olympism4Humanity (O4H) Praxis Summer Program organised by International Olympic Academy and the Olympism for Humanity Alliance at Marathon and Ancient Olympia in Greece from June 25 to July 5, 2015. Unable to bear the travelling expenses and required registration fees of 1,150 euro (Rs 1.35 lakh), he ran from pillar to post to find a sponsor but to no avail. Some Hindu preachers came forward after he threatened to burn his certificates and offered monetary help although he could not get a visa.
All this happened despite the fact that he has earlier been visited by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, East Delhi MP Maheish Girri, South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and former President Late APJ Abdul Kalam.
Who is Tejasvi Sharma?
Born in a poverty stricken family of a priest 每 Mithilesh Kumar Sharma 每 at Dehri village in Arrah town of Bihar＊s Bhojpur district, Tejasvi joined JNU for BA in German language in 2013.
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※Your son has suffered polio. His both legs are affected but the contagious disease has severely affected his right leg. It has lost sensation and may never work properly,§ Mithilesh recalls a doctor as saying.
Tejasvi＊s uncle took him to Delhi for better treatment. He underwent a surgery here and doctors suggested yoga. Unable to see his son walking with crutches or limps, Mithilesh taught Tejasvi about yoga moves. He used to practice along with his father everyday. Slowly, the condition improved.
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※I used to practice 80-100 asanas (Yoga postures) per day under the guidance of my father. When I grew up, I started practicing on my own and experimented new moves,§ said Tejasvi.
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His hard work, determination and strong will power bore fruit and beat his 89 percent disability. He started competing in 2009 and won at least eight competitions at state level within a year, moving towards national championship. He was shortlisted for All India Yoga Championship and Artistic Yoga Sports Championship organised by Indian Yoga Federation. However, he failed to perform well in his first national demonstration.
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He got tremendous support from a Noida-based NGO 每 Navratan Foundations 每 which promotes talent and works for skill development. He met choreographer Rajnikant Thakur there who helped him perform well.
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His efforts finally paid off. He became the first world yoga champion from India and that too in normal category. He moved on and took part in 2nd International Yoga Championship organised by Hong Kong Yoga Foundation and Dayal Leisure and Cultural Association in 2012.
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He won a gold medal for the country in yoga in physically disabled category.
He won a silver medal in International Yoga Championship held at Shanghai in China in 2014. He was recognised as the ＆Most Flexible Handicapped Yoga Champion＊ by Unique World Record in 2015.