As Ridhi Bothra and I got ready to start Session 7 of Lakes Initiative and about 15-20 participants collected in the area next to the gate near CRC of the lakes, a certain lady (apparently an extra-constitutional authority, who walks around the lakes with a stick and orders people around as if she owns the public property) asked us to stop our activity because, according to her, there was a court order against use of the public place under KMDA.
No court order was displayed anywhere, as is the norm and desired practice. Instead a heap of garbage was thrown near the entry to the area.
After hearing her objections, i informed her that lakes are a public property meant for the well-being of all to walk, exercise and look after their health.
The poor homeless people who gather there, benefit through the yoga and pranayam sessions and many of them are regularly reporting how their health is improving.
However, a bunch of people who were with the ‘stick lady’ joined her and vitiated the atmosphere.
I informed them that we teach yoga, pranayam for an hour only on Sundays as a service to the poor and homeless, many of whom have to beg to earn a living.
The yoga lessons help empower them physically, emotionally and even spiritually.
But, it seems many don’t like the poor from being empowered. I asked the group of objectors to help us rather than impede us in our service. But, instead, they continued to heckle and berate us!
Anyway, most of the scheduled one hour was spent in arguing, being accused of profiting from these activities and so on.
One of the hecklers even told the poor homeless people not to be misled by me as I benefited from the NGO and threatened them with legal prosecution fir ‘breaking the law’ and that i wouldn’t help them when that happens.
In fact, if anything, I have so far only been spending from my meagre resources with occasional support from some well-wishers. Moreover, ever since the lakes Initiative started my income from my breathwork classes has only plummeted due to falling social media reach. If there was any goodwill earned, it certainly did not show as monetary income.
The only real income for the foundation comes from the Tridosha Balancing courses which I teach online.
As arguments and chaos peaked, the poor and homeless participants strongly parried the objections of the stick-lady and her supporters. They mentioned how they were feeling better as they benefited from the initiative.
One of the hecklers even told the poor homeless people not to be misled by me and threatened them with legal prosecution.
The participants informed the hecklers how they received medicines, cash assistance for each day of participation, snacks and sundry other seasonal gifts like umbrellas, blankets etc.
A kind lady recently even offered to help with the children’s education.
However, today’s session was washed out under pressure from these self-appointed ‘lake martials’ and their continuous accusations, objections etc.
We tried moving the location to a few other spots but the impeders and hecklers continued to interfere.
Finally, we ended the session and distributed the snacks brought for them.
Let’s see what the future has in store.
– rajyogi (rajesh kanoi)
Rajyogi Power Of Breath Foundation
www.powerofbreath.in
+91 7003092539
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