[Reader-list] Dr H. Kumar Kaul - A Living Legend On Yoga

[Pawan Durani]

*Dr H. Kumar Kaul - A Living Legend On Yoga*

* *

*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
legend. 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
legend. 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 blending 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 Kendra, 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 workt END

*The writer is Gen. Secretary Panun Kashmir

*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

Source: Kashmir Sentinel