A PURELY individual physical exercise like yoga has for the first time in the history of post-Independence India been given a national status because the central government announced that June 21 would become a landmark in Indian history when “the whole of India” would be officially expected to perform yoga exercises. The central government had asked every public servant, autonomous universities/colleges and others to observe June 21 as International Yoga Day, which was accepted by the United Nations at the sole initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Further, it deserves to be clearly stated that for Yoga Day celebrations, a very large-scale mobilisation had been undertaken by all public institutions and private organisations, led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and thousands of Hindu saints, sadhus and yoga teachers. It is also for the first time in the history of post-Independence India that the central government-led and-announced programme on June 21 has been jointly undertaken by the government, the RSS, and Hindu yoga teachers, saints, sadhus and priestly clans. The first analytical question which needs to be examined critically is that the “rationale” behind this programme of yoga, which in public eye is associated with Hindu mythological gods and scriptures. The government had to announce that ‘surya namaskar’ at the time of beginning of yoga exercise will not be “compulsory” because a very important section of the Muslim community had protested against this Hindu religious recitation. The issue does not end here. Indian people associate yoga with Hinduism and this public perception has been further solidified and strengthened by the decision of the central government because the ruling BJP is a Hindutva-vadi party and it is a political outfit of the Hindutva RSS, for which this country is inhabited by Hindu religious population. How can a government at the centre and in the states led by a Hindutva-vadi party like BJP be disassociated from Hinduism of yoga? Can there be an iota of doubt in public mind about the Hinduism of yoga when Hindu yogis and RSS followers are actively and aggressively mobilising Hindus of India to observe June 21 as Yoga Day? Hindu scriptures have been quoted and mythological Hindu god has been identified as the first yoga creator? Lord Shiva is ‘Adi-Yogi’, or the first yogi. The story does not end here. Is the government of India and BJP governments in some of the major states are not aware that yoga teachers or gurus have commercialised yoga for private profits? The well honoured “businessman” of this trade is yoga guru Ramdev who as chief protagonist of ‘yoga vidya’ has been patronised by BJP in the government. The BJP-led Haryana government has made Ramdev some kind of special guru and the BJP government at the centre has publicly patronised him. Is the government not aware that an ill-educated and ill-trained Ramdev, the public face of yoga, is owner of so-called indigenously produced medicines at Haridwar? Is the government collaborating with thousands of yoga teachers, saints and sadhus who have made it a “profitable business” by manipulating the insecure and anxiety-ridden, vulnerable and extremely gullible Hindu masses? A fundamental issue of great public concern is that an elected prime minister, chief ministers and ministers in their official “public” position cannot be seen to be associated and partnering with yogis, or saints or sadhus of religious community. The BJP and the affiliates of RSS led, controlled and guided Hindu organisations through its public activities. The latest being the celebration of Yoga Day on June 21 publicly placed beyond any shadow of doubt that its every action is dedicated to achieve only one goal i.e. to establish Hindu Rashtra in which Hindu religious preachers have to occupy a place of pride. This is the agenda of the Sangh Parivaar and its political outfit, the BJP on whose band wagon businessmen like Ramdev or the whole parasitical Hindu priestly clan feels protected and promoted. The messenger’s message is important and clear message is that the only protector of Hindu religion, its tradition, its rituals, its beliefs in India is the Sangh Parivaar and BJP, if it is in power. If the Hindus of India elect the BJP, they should feel assured that their rituals, beliefs, holy cow and holy temples, and their priests will be defended, otherwise the “believers” of foreign origin religions like Islam and Christianity living in India will have an upper hand over Hindus. Hindu practice of Saraswati Puja in schools and ‘Surya Namashkar’ et. all would be made compulsory to inculcate Hindu values to make better Hindus in Hindu India. Hence, Yoga Day celebrations on June 21 as commanded from above can be seen as an integral part of Hinduisation of India as the goal of the Hindutva-vadi BJP’s government and Hindutva organisations including saints and sadhus. The real objection is that the government instead of performing its own duties in the field of promoting facilities in public health and public education, it is handing over its own basic activities to swamis, saints, yogis who are according to BJP and RSS are solely equipped to teach Hindu values based on Hindu rituals. The real significance of the BJP sponsored Yoga Day observation on June 21 can be only understood if this “decision” of the government is linked with the larger agenda of the BJP and the Sangh Parivaar of the ‘Hindu Rashtravaad’ because as one day event if looked in isolation from the whole agenda of Hinduisation of society and culture as interpreted by official government interpreters and Hindu sadhus and yogis then its real message is trivialised. Yogi Adityanath or Sakshi Maharaj as BJP MPs are not just individuals their activities and pronouncements against “religious minority communities” or Mohan Bhagwat and Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s public pronouncement for the need for “rewriting and correction of Indian History textbooks” or government funded cultural and educational organisation engaged in the “rewriting or re-imagining of Indian Cultural History” to make people understand the greatness of ‘Hindu India’ are part of the total ideological agenda of the Sangh Parivaar and BJP and hence Yoga Day the great importance to yogis and priests attended by the Modi government are all inter-related and inter-connected. The sum and substance of the above narrative is that Yoga Day observation or patronising of Ramdev and thousands of others yoga teachers, irrespective of the fact that even if they are engaged in shady business activities are all under the umbrella of BJP government and RSS as joint workers for the promotion of the cause of Hinduisation of Indian Society as defined by politicians of the Sangh Parivaar. It is a political agenda and it is not the means but the end that matters. It is not only the Modi-led government and bureaucracy hyperactive in using the media to mobilise participants for Yoga Day. Modi himself an expert in sending Twitter messages, wrote on his Twitter page to “learn about-Salabhasana or the locust pose and its positive effects for Yoga Day.” He further continued “the posture improves flexibility in the back and improves digestion.” The question thus occurs, why this Hinduisation of physical exercises, Mr Modi? Why are Hindu outfits like RSS openly championing and actively promoting Yoga day?