By Kuldeep Raina
Allama Iqbal once told
Prem Bhatia, the veteran journalist", Had our ancestors not migrated from Kashmir,
Pt. Moti Lal Nehru would have been a district-level pleader and I would have
been a district-level poet". Kashmiris have risen to great eminence only when
they decided to bid adieu to their homeland. This holds true of Dr. H. Kumar
Kaul too. His contributions to the study and practice of Yoga have made him a
sort of leg. A dynamic personality, Dr Kaul has distinguished himself as a fine
educationist, seasoned administrator and a celebrated Yoga practitioner.
Presently, he is Director of Gandhi Arya Sen Secondary School, Barnala (Punjab). His only lament is 'my own community does not know me'.
Kashmiri Pandits do not
invest in property. They invest in education of their children. Dr Kaul's
parents too gave him quality education. Born on 26th July, 1938 at Srinagar, Dr.
H.Kumar Kaul had his early education at Kashmir's best school, Tyndal Biscoe
School. Later, he joined Govt. Amar Singh College. It was here he
distinguished himself as the Best Swimmer, Best Debator, Best Sportsman and Best
Actor. He was adjudged 'All Round Best'. It was in 1959 that Dr Kaul, a college
student then, caught the attention of veteran film actor, Prithvi Raj Kapoor.
The doyen of Indian Cinema felt impressed with his role in stage play “Chattan”.
Dr. Kaul did his M.A. in
English literature with distinction and B.Ed. from University of Kashmir. He had
his diploma in journalism from Delhi University.
He did his Doctorate from Punjabi University, Patiala. His dissertation was
"Contribution of the Deras and Akharas of
Punjab
in Yoga and Sufism".
He was the first scholar in northern India
to venture in this particular field.
Early sixties were bad
times for Kashmiri Pandit community. The policy of communal discrimination in
state services made many brilliant Pandit boys leave Kashmir to seek living
outside J&K. Dr. H.Kumar Kaul had also to move to Abohar (Punjab) in 1963. He
headed Department of English for ten years at DAV College here. He made his mark
not only as a gifted teacher but excelled in cultural and literary fields too.
Dr. Kaul edited 'The Seemant Jyoti' for a decade. For a while he assumed
Principleship of DAV College, Karnal.
1975 proved to be a
challenge for him. SD College, Barnala had fallen out of reputation. Student
indiscipline in the proceeding sessions had created a climate of insecurity and
uncertainty. Dr. H. Kumar Kaul was asked to head this institution to steer it
out of its troubles. His hardwork, tact and visionary ideas helped the
institution to regain its reputation. The college once again became an
institution of academic excellence. Dr Kaul continued to head this institution
till his retirement in 1992, displaying his worth as an academician and
administrator. During this period, he was a member of Punjab University
Syndicate and Academic Council. After retirement, he has remained associated
with the administration of SD Educational Institutions.
It is in the field of
Yoga, that Dr. H.Kumar Kaul's name is taken with awe and respect. His deep
knowledge of the practice of Yoga has made him a leg. Yoga is a way of life to
him. He has written more than 220 research papers on Yoga, which have been
published in reputed newspapers and magazines in India and abroad. As a
practitioner of Yoga, he has authored 8 Text-books, besides 54 books. These have
been widely-acclaimed. Inpeccable prose and remarkable communication skills have
helped Dr. Kaul to make his message reach wider audience. The great scholar of
Yoga has also given practical demonstration of nearly 100 yogasanas in different
competitions. He has also given numerous Radio-talks over AIR and BBC on Yoga
therapy.
The thrust and emphasis of
his books is on bling the traditional and modern approachs in Yogic philosophy
and science, keeping in view the existing socio-economic milieu. Presently, he
is working on Yoga and Islam, besides Contribution of
Punjab
in Hathayoga.
Dr Kaul was introduced to Yoga at the age of 11. He learnt Yoga through its
great practitioners - Swami Neelkanth, Swami Laxman and Swami Krishnand, General
Secretary of Divine Life Society. As an Indian, he feels proud of its great past
and locates Yoga in Hindu Scriptures. In Ramayana, he finds Hanuman
as a true Yogi. who could control his mind and senses by practice and Vairagya
(renunciation). Dr. Kaul observes: "Hanuman practised Hathyoga
(Yoga of Hand) and is a living symbol of Vairagya. That is why his aim
was to attain perfection which he could not attain so much in Rama, but in
Rama's citashakti i.e. Sita. Hanuman's search for Sita is
nothing but his spiritual quest".
About Gita, Dr. Kaul
remarks: "All the 18 chapters in the Gita are designated as the types of
Yoga...All the eighteen Yogas contained in the 18 chapters may be reduced to
four-the Karma Yoga (the Yoga of action), the raja yoga (the Yoga of
super-consciousness), the bhakti yoga (the Yoga of devotion) and the
jnana yoga (the Yoga of knowledge). Tradition holds that spiritual life
begins with Karma Yoga and goes on evolving into the other three respectively".
For his great services to
Yoga, Dr Kaul has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. He was honoured
with the title of 'Yogacharya' in December, 1986, at the World Yoga
Conference in New Delhi. In 1987 he received the title of 'Yoga purush'.
The Vishav Unnayayan Sansad, bestowed upon him the prestigious 'Yoga Ratna'
title in 1988. "Yoga Shiromani' was conferred upon him by the Mission
International Faridabad in 2001. In 1998, he was selected as Senior
Vice-President of the Indian Council for Research on Yoga, and a member of the
Governing Council of the World Yoga Parishad. Many Yoga and social organisations
deem it their proud privilege to associate him with their bodies to utilise his
rich experience. Dr. Kaul was the convener of World Conference on 'Kundalini
Yoga Sadhana', organised in November, 1988 at New Delhi.
He has been honoured by many universities. University of Sagar (MP)
has made him a life member of All India Yoga Society. Benaras Hindu University
appointed him as a member of the All India Yoga Academy. In 1987 he served as
National Minister of Spiritual and Yoga affairs.
He is also a Trustee of
Chander Prakash Mehra International Centre for the study of Tantra, Yoga and
Conservation of Cultural Property, New Delhi. In 1999 at an International
Yoga Conference in Rajasthan, he was adjudged as the best speaker and
honoured. His book 'Yoga for Health' received National Book Award in 1989 from
Laxmi Bai College of Physical Education, Gwalior.
Dr. Kaul serves as an
editorial advisor to 'Yoga Thara', a bio-monthly journal being published from
Secundarbad. Besides this he is Founder-President of Yoga Institute, Chowgam;
Founder-Director of Kundalini Yoga Research Centre; Member All India Yoga
Association, Delhi;
Chairman (Yoga) Mission International, Faridabad; Founder-President of Swami
Vrijanand Yoga Sadhna Kra, Barnala. He has also written 14 one Act plays in
English and Urdu. Dr Kaul is a contributor to 14 volume 'Encyclopaedia of
Sikhism', published by Punjabi University, Patiala. He has interpreted the
meaning of Yoga in this.
Dr. Kaul has also deep
commitment to society and takes up the lost causes. He is Founder-President of
the Punjab Welfare Association of the Blind and convened All India Conference
for the Blind in 1981. He has been actively associated with campaigns, aimed at
eradicating drug addiction and other social evils. Dr. Kaul inspires others to
take up the social work.
Books
By Dr. H. Kumar Kaul
1. Aaradhna.
2. Cosmic
Consciousness.
3. Yoga for Health.
4. Pranayama for
Health.
5. Aspects of Yoga.
6. Perrenial Paths of
Yoga.
7. Yogasanas for
Everyone.
8. Yoga and Physical
Education.
9. Yoga in Punjab.
10. Instant Yoga for
Businessmen.
11. The Secret Doctrine
of Yoga.
12. Yoga and World Peace.
13. Yoga in Hindu
Scriptures.
14. National Integration
through Yoga.
15. Yoga For Common
Diseases.
16. Yoga and
Drug-Addiction.
17. Yoga and Heart
Diseases.
18. Yoga and Diabetes.
19. Yoga and Asthma.
20. Yoga and Backaches.
21. Yoga and Arthritis.
22. Yoga and Skin
Diseases.
23. Yoga and
Hypertension.
24. Yoga and Obesity.
25. Yoga and Headaches.
26. Yoga and Alpecia
(Baldness).
27. Yoga and
Constipation.
28. Yoga and Stress.
29. Yoga and Depression.
30. Yoga and Menopause.
31. Yoga and Impotency.
32. Yoga and Personality
Disorders.
33. Yoga and Stomach
Diseases.
34. Yoga and ENT
Diseases.
35. Yoga and Amnesia
(loss of Memory).
36. Yoga and HIV/AIDS.
37. Yoga and Healthy
Aging.
38. Meditation - Theory
and Practice.
39. Yoga - Theory and
Practice.
40. The Healing Powers of
Pranyama.
41. Yoga in Hindu
Scriptures