Swami Ramdev yoga-camp proceeds amidst pricing controversy
Swami Ramdev’s first yoga sessions outside of India ran very successfully, with thousands attended a weeklong series of workshops at the Elmbridge Club in Ilford. The event was organised by Patanjali Yog Peeth and Aastha Broadcasting Network (UK), and took place from 15th July to 22nd July. Similar events are planned in Leicester and Harrow in the next few weeks.
July 24th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Yes ,
it is true that the workshop is overpriced. I think they should have made it clear about “how much is the cost of workshop” and “how much is the donation”.
Though we are NRI but certainly have our limits and assests.The
rumour in India about all NRI”s are rich people is not correct . We seem
to rich in India when we spent our saved money there.
July 24th, 2006 at 10:36 am
Bobby Verma’s claim that Aastha has been providing a free channel is indeed a one-sided view of the situation. He does not mention how much Aastha is charging the societies whose religiouw programmes are being broadcast ‘for free’!
I have first-hand knowledge that a hefty charge is levied for any request to broadcast a live event, and even ahighlights spot is not cheap at tens of thousands of rupees for one shot.
July 24th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
I do not see any problem to pay for this type of yoga. Hatha yoga and pranayama what is been taught are just the elements focused on the physical elements of the body. To pay for such things are to me the same as you are paying for a gym membership. Swami Ramdev has done a brilliant job in packaging and marketing this as a product offering - and of course with the help of Aastha TV. Both needed each other to maintain an audience and reach a market. Full credit to both of them for popularising ‘health’ issues and public becoming enthusiastic in doing some good exercises - this is at the national level. This is like any other product sold in a commercial market place.
PS. I do not think we should mix this spiritual side.
July 24th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Congratulations to Swamiji, his team and Aastha TV to organise such a big event so successfully. Just ask the devotees who attended how much they benefitted from the ancient science and philosophyof yoga and how grateful they are to to be able to cure some of the incurable diseases and ailments. Those who could afford have purchased the donor passes; those who couldn’t can reap the benefit at home; no one is forcing any one. It is unfair to label the event a commercial farce or to complaint about the pricing. Not only the Hindus but the world community should support Swami Ramdevji’s Patanjali Yog Peeth Trustwhose aim is to eradicate sickness universally.
July 25th, 2006 at 11:43 am
Let us take the organisers as sicere and honest people until it is proved otherwise by a thorough scrutiny.
It needs checking from all angles before blaming or sanctioning the fees’ price.
But it would have been appreciated very much , had the organisers taken into confidence the concerned societies,bodies,temples and the people at large before hand to fix the prices. It would have been prevented any chance of doubt about intentions.
I don’t think there is any problem with intentions.Perhaps decision in rush being sceptic about expenditure is the case,it seems.
One of my friends finds an acces to puujya Ramadeva jee almost impossible in Bharat. He asked his brother to contact HIM here ( thinking it is easier). His brother a British citizen is a great struggler in this country for years and taken as rich by his people in Bharat can’t afford £70 and
thinks-there is no access for him to swami ji exept through some one else’s sky-'’AASTHAA'’. Thanks to them even if they fail to reach the lay (live).
July 26th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
Swami Ramdev was very patriotic during the camps and they were very good.
However, on the last day we were told from mid august we have to pay for viewing Aastha International. Sounds like a money making opportunity for the company.
July 30th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Swami Ramdev crusade for Yoga is really aweinspiring,it has a great potential for futuristic identity of India.Rising above caste and creed and uniting all Yoga minded people.I think squabbling over pricing of the facilities is not a right attitude. Be generous. Vasudhev Kutumbkan is not frre.!!!
July 31st, 2006 at 11:33 pm
It is true that there should not be any difference in the fee to attend the Yoga course. There should have been a common price for all. Those who want to donate, it should be a separate thing from attending the course.
Yes the matter what anybody says, we Hindus in United kingdom are really grateful to have Aastha television here for free so far. Even if we need to pay, we should be ready to pay for the excellent programmes they show now and they are going to show in the future. Honestly I never even drempt that Aastha t v is shown in UK.
I do hope and pray that the subscription for Aastha TV should not be more than £10/month or £100/year. I hope there should be another 24 hour religious channel for competition to have better programmes like Sanskar TV
August 1st, 2006 at 6:28 am
Congratulations to the organisers, keep up the good work.
I think we need to realise that there is no thing as a free lunch. Of course there should be a charge.The notion that charging goes against the grain of Vedanta philosophy is wrong.
Present times demand a high price to support such events and if the recipient is not willing to contribute than who should? Those organising such events carry a huge burden and are aware of the little response if left to the good will of the people to donate of their own will.
The vast majority of the public do not think twice when they subscribe to channels that show ’serials’ that depict all women as evil, script is made of broken hindi and ridicules Hinduism by portraying it as a superstitious religion!
August 2nd, 2006 at 2:18 pm
At the end of the day, Ramdevji’s message and yogic practices have reached alot of people due to the fact the Aastha channel being free. It also has brought the Patanjali Yoga Peeth Project much needed media coverage. To keep the channel on air wouldn’t it be better if there was a small subscription fee rather than removing the channel completly due to the over growing costs?? Okay, the viewing public will no doubt decrease, but they recieved the message from the a year of free viewing.
As Jaimin Patel rightly points out, we should support dharmic projects such as these. No one has yet complained about the price that Star plus or Zee TV are demanding, they willingly pay the price with out any objection.
August 3rd, 2006 at 9:51 am
Yes, they pay those prices because they crave to enjoy all the sensual rubbish shown therein; because it caters to and feeds their aroused animal desires: a result of constant and prolonged efforts of the propagators.
Our education of the West, of its material Sciences coupled with an alien atmosphere, society and so called Secularism - in fact irreligosity - have made us Hindus in name only. We are no more ‘Aryas’ (’shreshtha’ people).
Our religious and spiritual sides and practise of Dharma have become extinct and our standards of morality have taken a steep dive so that we too hanker after sensual enjoyments and entertainments. Our Scriptures had taught us: “High moral standards of character, living and behaviour is not just Dharma - but it is super-Dharma : AAcharo Paramo Dharmah”.
But we have been dragged into believe otherwise. Naturally, we happily pay for those channels.
To rekindle that desire, a greater herculean effort has to be made by people like Aastha Channel and Baba Ramdevji.
To levy a charge by a ‘Swami’ (or for a ‘Swami’) for his discourses is not what a Hindu expects. This is abnormal - because it does not go with our Dharma. It does not go well with ‘Swamihood’.
Bhagwan Vedavyas, Patanjali Muni, Muni Shukdev, Maharshi Parashar - even Bhagwan Ram and Leela Purushottam Bhagwan Krishna did not put a price and market their discourses and teachings.
‘Swamiji’ reminds us of their greatness and often talks of them. So, we expect something more than another ‘Bapu’ or Swami having landed here simply to multiply 1×85 and return with a bulging purse - even though for good or charitable causes. Charity has an altogether different definition in Hinduism. It is totally unlike the West.
To find fault with the critics is not justified. They are expecting of him what is being propagated about him. So, when they find him too at the same level, they naturally feel frustrated.
August 6th, 2006 at 11:30 am
To the people who are totally defending the high prices of the yoga camp: you are dodging the issue of the ‘VIP’ (very important person) category of tickets. The existence of a category called ‘VIP’ at a yoga event shows that the organisers are off their heads and not thinking clearly.
Anyway - an anecdote to indicate what the public thinks of the whole thing. My parents are both occasional practitioners of Yoga, having learnt from Swami Ramdev’s TV slot on Aashta. They were very eager to go to the these sessions. When they saw the prices they were hesitant, but were still considering going. Then my little sister (who is only 16) said that having a VIP ticket category is very off-putting. My parents agreed and decided not to go.
As far as fund-raising is concerned - I can appreciate that good work often requires funds to expand and continue. But, why make the medium of raising the funds charging extortionate prices for entry and access to the teachings? There are other, more constructive ways to gather funds. Swami Ramdev is so popular that a fund raising campaign in his name could have raised huge funds. However after these ticket prices, maybe not.
August 8th, 2006 at 9:35 am
I think the separate pricing structure is not appropriate for any training programmes.
It dose seem to me that if it was made clear form the begining that the price is for a total of eight sessions and not just one as most understood this controversary would not have arisen.
To my mind where in UK can you find a course for less than £10.
Even the evening classes for basic two hour computer course costs £10.
K J Patel
August 12th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
I believe that the pricing structure was and is against any moral or ethical principal for “religious” organisation.
Also, this does not give a good impression about some one who is a “Swami”. In the eye of god, everyone is equal there are no VIP’s, “gold”, or “silver”, class.
Does “swami” believe that those who paid VIP prices will get more benefits then those who did not?
The “swami” would have generated more respect and goodwill if the pricing structure were same for all.
Also, justifying the pricing on the grounds that Astha has been providing free service is diverting the attention from the real issue - the question of equality.
This proves that Hinduism has sunk to the gutter level where money is the god.
Finally, I believe that, if “swami” continues to chase after money, Patanjali will have its moments and will go the same way as all the others.
Downfall of the Patanjali will be a monumental loss as the message is very sound and relevant.
August 15th, 2006 at 9:43 am
Just to highlight to those of you who feel that Swamiji has been harsh or lenient with the pricing…well if you think about it…he probably has nothing to do with it at all!!!!
I’m sure like us all Swamiji as a teacher teaches his students and then collects a salary!!