Celebrated
Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev who is also the face of Patanjali
Ayurvedic Products is known for wearing his personal opinions on his sleeves.
In an exclusive interview to at his Ashram in Haridwar, Ramdev speaks his
heart out on issues like demonetization, Naveen Patnaik, plans to go global
among others. Excerpts from the interview:
Manish
Kumar
1.
You have been holding numerous yoga sessions in different states for more than
a decade. How you see Orissa from your perspective?
Ramdev: I have been visiting
Orissa for the last 10 years. The state is the most gifted region in the
country in terms of natural resources while it is a very important site in
terms of religion. People of Orissa are honest and hard working. There are few
who opine that Oriyas work harder when living outside their state, which is a
false opinion. The land of Jagannath, possessing religious importance is also
perceived as a state which has huge potential.
Also
in our fight on economic freedom (against MNCs) Orissa has proved to be a
spearheading state which is fighting hard to wipe out the Multi-National
Companies (MNCs). We expect soon we can wipe out the MNCs from Orissa.
2:
Different chief ministers have extended their support to you in the past either
by offering lands to you for opening schools, hospitals or yoga training
sessions. How much support you got from Naveen Patnaik?
Ramdev: Naveen ji is a very good
person at heart. We maintain cordial relation with him. You must have seen in
the past we never had any issues with each other. We also hope any future
endeavors in Orissa are likely to be fruitful.
3:
Any offers from Orissa government yet for land or support for your
mission/business?
Ramdev: We have till now not
talked on the issue but I hope if we would plan something we expect we can get
good response from the government.
4:
Mostly it is seen that the BJP-ruled states have extended you more support
while not many non-BJP states have come forth. Do you think there is
discrimination from the other side?
Ramdev: No. Recently Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav gave us 400 acres of land in a prime
location in Noida. Our mission is not political, it is beyond that. Our mission
is about giving the country economic freedom and all those who love their
country are with us. Patanjali is a brand of the country, I am the unpaid brand
ambadassor of Patanjali, Acharya Balakrishna is the unpaid CEO/MD of the same.
If there is anything in the country which truly is a model of charity and
trusteeship it is Patanjali.
5:
You once started an agitation against the black money at the Ram Leela Grounds
in New Delhi before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Do you think your agitation has
brought tangible changes on the ground?
Ramdev: Our main three
objectives were black money, fight against corruption and revival of the
corrupt system. For the implementation on ground levels, everything takes time.
An agitation could be constructed in 10 days but bringing changes through an
agitation at ground levels can take 10 years.
So
accomplishing these three things would take some time but the intentions of
Modi ji are clear and correct. He is working hard towards it.
6:
Recently you alleged a scam in the demonetization process. How you seek to
resolve the crisis due to demonetisation?
Ramdev: For making
demonetization a success, we need to focus on four areas-firstly, there should
not be any corruption in the banking system, secondly, RBI plays its entrusted
responsibility honestly, thirdly, the taxation system works properly where it
has to ensure the corrupt are not shielded and the honest common man is not
harassed and lastly we need to change the attitude of the people.
7:
How you see the whole demonetization process?
Ramdev: Modiji with the right
intentions has taken a very courageous and historic decision. But everything
the Prime Minister alone cannot do. The system also needs to work in the
correct path. If the above mentioned four segments work in tandem and with
honesty, demonetization is going to be a success. Modiji is involved in making
the system work properly. There are some challenges at the implementation level
but slowly the issues are being resolved. But I feel problems of the problem
due to demonetization are likely to persist even after December 30 this year.
8:
It been a long time now since Patanjali came into existence. With the passage
of time how you have tried to improve the quality of your products?
Ramdev: For the quality control
three components are of paramount importance-raw materials, advanced world
class technology and testing. Our raw materials are 100 per cent genuine and of
high quality. We use world class advanced scientific equipment worth crores. We
have around 200 scientists working with us. For testing our products we first
try on ourselves before bringing in into the market. In India in the sector of
Ayrurdevic production no one can mach to the level of infrastructure, equipment
and skills of what we have.
9:
But despite that allegations are sometime labeled against you on different
fronts, the recent one includes court order of fines for Patanjali for
misleading advertisements. How you see such charges?
Ramdev:
In
the advertisement sector we are used to confrontations on an everyday basis. As
far as the court order is concerned, we would appeal to the higher courts
against it. If any small politician or individual with vested interests with
such cases tries to lock horn with us we are not going to tow down.
10:
With whom you face confrontations in the advertisement sector?
Ramdev: With the advertisement
agencies. Representatives of the MNCs are sitting there. There are many rivals
against them. I want to ask why there is hardly a single brand in India who had
been able to rise against the MNCs in the last 70 years. It is because either they
are suppressed or they are bought.
11:
Are you planning to take your Ayurvedic products to the international markets
too?
Ramdev: By 2017 we are planning
to go global to sell our products to the international population. In Nagpur
our production house where a part of it would be exclusively be dedicated to
making products for exports is most likely to start functioning by next year.
We are not focusing on few countries, we have eyed to export our products to
across the globe.
12:
Currently your products have entered the supermarkets through stores owned by
Apollo, Future Group and Reliance. What would be your future steps to reach out
to more people?
Ramdev: We have now entered in
almost all modern popular chains. We are planning to have a full fledged
extension now. We are now all set to venture into the online marketing through
e-commerce sites in a big way to sell our products online by 2017.
13:
You have been offering 500 products including recently releases Shishu
products. What products are lined up next?
Ramdev: We are about to emerge
in a big way into the dairy sector. We have aimed to launch out brand of
textiles in the country by next year. In the textile sector we are planning to
sell yoga wears, all Indian traditional wears, kids, ladies and gentswear and
fashionable textiles.
14:
You have been teaching yoga for more than a decade. Do you see a rise in the
number of your followers for yoga or it is stagnant/declined?
Ramdev: Many folds. And why it
would not. What we do is directly connected to the people. Whatever we do
either yoga or ayurvedic products, all are directly related and connected to
the people. If you connect to the people it is definitely going to form a bond
with them.
15:
How you see the magnitude of your endevours in the next days to come?
Ramdev: In the next five
years we are going to give direct employment to around 5 lakh people and
connect around 5 crore farmers directly with us. And in terms of production it
could reach to such a level that among the 125 crore people in Induia, all
would be using atleast one of our products. This is the likely connectivity of
people in the next five years. We have already reached half of the target now.
16:
You have proposed the government of a Vedic Education Board in the country. Do
you think this is feasible in the current scenario?
Ramdev: At the government level,
these things are little bit tough. These are done through spirit. We are
reframing from using the word ‘vedic’ now as it could give a false impression.
We want an ‘Indian Education Board’ which could be a blend of modern scientific
knowledge in addition to spiritual teachings. There will be a direct
connectivity with the new world. Who would not like to get their kids admitted
to these kinds of institutions? We are getting positive response from the
government for the same.
17:
In the past you had hinted about participating in politics. In future can we
see you joining active politics?
Ramdev: At that time we asked
for a better political alternative and I believe currently there is the
alternative working at the central level. There is no question of me joining
active politics. It was my Bhisma Pratigya (vow) not to accept
any political position. But if the country is danger and I keep quit that is
not possible for me.
18:
But you had supported BJP earlier during elections?
Ramdev: That was a time of
political crisis. Now I am Nirdaliya (Independent) but also Sarvadaliya (pro-all
party). I will rise for the nation whenever the demand comes. The country is
supreme for me.
