________________
parel.
their enthusiastic visit to a yoga
But not everybody came convention is understandable. across such benevolence. "Being Several of them came with their aware that we are foreigners, entire family, babies and prams most cab drivers try to cheat us," et al. Most of them were draped said one of the delegates to in saffron robes or saffron saris Munger. In fact one of them was and seemed to enjoy a sort of charged a fare of Rs 500 in place spiritual contentment in their ap- of a nominal Rs 50. Such ex
periences did disappoint many, For many foreigners India is but they are ready to forget them in fact a glorious land of rich and are eager to avail of the best traditions and a great culture. In- that India has to offer them. dian culture, they feel, is the Martin, who has a thorough cornerstone of world culture. Ac
knowledge of India's history, is cording to Jean Deirgente from unhappy about its present Australia, "Each culture is like a
maladies. "The Indus Valley flower, and only by coming near
civilization was so advanced. The the flower can one smell its
Indian ayurvedic treatment was fragrance.” He added that he
so developed. But then India wanted to know India better by
tripped somewhere, and today it experiencing it.
has no shanti," he says. "India is so different. Its
Martin, however, has found peoples are so beautiful," says
shanti in India. He is a new perPeter from England. Gillian from
son altogether after his tryst with Australia feels Indians are open
Indian culture and its great conand frank, "They talk to you on
tribution, yoga. From a very trains and are always ready to
young age he suffered from a help you," she says.
psychosomatic disease, as a Several of the visitors know
result of which he could not sit of Bihar as the "most backward
straight or bend his legs properstate" in the country. But they
ly. "Now I can sit any way I like, found the people of the state to
see," he demonstrates.
He is thankful to have come be very friendly. Manjula Hiti and her husband, Janez Hiti,
across yoga and is quite vocal from Slovenia arrived in Kiul
about it. “I am not only fit physifrom Calcutta by train early in
cally but also a quieter and more
tolerant person now," he says. the morning, on their way to the yoga conference. At that early
Christina, his wife, who has been hour they could not find a
acquainted with the discipline for vehicle to the conference venue.
three years says she feels light To their surprise, some local
and full of a kind of contentment. people came to their rescue,
Holland has several yoga schools
and transcendental meditation is "They arranged a private vehicle for us". Manjula recalls with
quite popular there. gratitude.
Most of the delegates to the yoga convention had come from 389
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