Shaina NC belongs to that generation of the BJP that is young, ambitious and modern. She has challenged the stereotypical image of female politicians, especially those belonging to the BJP, a party that is a bit conservative as far as the public appearance of women is concerned. Now she has started an initiative to connect with people in an innovative way — with yoga. On the last Sunday of every month, she organises ‘Yoga by the Bay’, an event in which thousands of people gather on Marine Drive to perform yoga. She shared more about it with Pandurang Mhaske.
Q: What is the concept behind Yoga by the Bay?
A: Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the idea and I have just continued it. Basically, it was started on International Yoga Day, which was in June this year. In Mumbai, people are not cautious about their health, but they should think more about it. I believe that health is wealth. After PM Modi’s appeal for International Yoga Day, I decided to continue the programme and it got a tremendous response. The participation of the public is increasing with every meet. Today, there were about 5,000 people who took part in the event, despite it being a rainy day. This shows the success of the event.
Q: Is it a successful event or are you just trying to help your party by connecting the people with you?
A: It may be true that I am connecting the people with me. If this will help my party, then it would be good. But it is clear that this is not a political event. This is a joint initiative by I Love Mumbai, The Art of Living and the Equal Streets Initiative. Yoga is a way of life and it’s one of the few forms of exercise that helps us connect inwards as well. Every physical posture is good for the body, while yoga also teaches attitude management.
I organise the same on behalf of the NGO, I Love Mumbai. The NGO was started by my father, Nana Chudasama. If you think I am trying to build my political image, it’s not true — I am not trying to gain politically.
You will find that Marine Drive’s picturesque promenade has been home to exercise buffs, dog walkers and canoodling couples. But on the last Sunday morning of every month, it looks different, with thousands of people performing yoga along this stretch for Yoga by the Bay. I am just trying to practise and propagate this invaluable ancient Indian discipline.
Q: You said the numbers of the participants are increasing with every event. How is this happening?
A: This initiative is to make citizens aware about their health. Simultaneously, I try to make the people aware about the environment as well — I distribute saplings to the participants. My NGO was working for ‘Clean Mumbai-Green Mumbai’.
Q: You are the youth face of the party. What message do you have for the youth?
A: Well, the event was first started with huge participation of the youth. I appealed to college-going youngsters to join it and they responded. Now, in the next month, I am going to mark the event even for senior citizens and will distribute saplings to them. I am connecting the people in a positive way. This is a movement.
Q: People have many problems in their life. How will this help them?
A: Health is also a problem. Political parties and leaders connect the people with their party’s agenda. They stage agitations for public causes for their gain. This (Yoga by the Bay) is out-of-the-box thinking. I don’t have any political agenda, but if it is helping politically it is good for me.
Q: What more can you say about the event?
A: This event is very special because India is behind both yoga and ayurveda, and while the whole world is following yoga, it is time for Indians to present it in a better way for the world. Let’s be the world leaders. Going to the gym is not enough, yoga is equally important.
