The year 2023-24 marked the
centenary celebration of
Kaivalyadhama, a globally recognised institution that has pioneered the scientific research and promotion of yoga. Founded in 1924 by the
visionary Swami Kuvalayananda, Kaivalyadhama has been at the forefront of integrating yoga with modern science,
while upholding the deep-rooted traditions and wisdom of Indian cultural heritage.
Kaivalyadhama marked the milestone of its centennial year celebration throughout 2023-24 with a range of prestigious events, workshops, and conferences. Each event highlighted the integration of yoga
into various facets of life, from education and mental well-being to its global promotion. The centenary celebrations were
inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu in November 2023 with a threeday national-level conference on the integration of yoga in school education. As part of the celebrations a commemorative coin was released on November 1, and
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das recounted the contribu
tions made by Kaivalyadhama. The three-day conference was also
graced by Ramesh Bais, Governor of Maharashtra, Aditi Tatkare, Minister for
Women and Child Development, Maharashtra, and Suresh Prabhu,
Chairman, Centenary Committee. Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala,
was the chief guest for the culminating ceremony. Then, on December 10, 2023, then
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud inaugurated the Justice M.L. Pendse Centre
for Cancer Survivors and Lifestyle Conditions in Lonavala. On the occasion a
symposium on “Conflict Resolution” was also held.
Earlier this year, an international conference on integration of yoga in the higher education system was held in Mumbai, and presided over by Prof. V.N Rajasekharan Pillai, VC, Somaiya Vidyavihar University. It deliberated on the effective integration of
yoga in higher education, the New Education Policy implementation and the
role of yoga in human development, apart
from other experiential sessions.Kaivalyadhama, in collaboration with
ISCM and SBV, conducted a series of training programmes for teachers of children
with neurodevelopmental disorders. More than 200 events have been organised in
India and abroad as part of the centenary celebrations. The institution has also been
at the forefront of organising events on International Yoga Day, which is marked
on June 21. The events organised by Kaivalyadhama on International Yoga Day
brought together eminent personalities from the world of jurisprudence, medicine,
the armed forces, and other institutions of national importance. One of the key highlights of Kaivalyadhama’s effort to promote yoga is
the Bharat Yoga Mala—a unique outreach initiative through specifically curated yoga programmes across 32 cities and towns in India. It showcased the powerful integration of yoga into various sectors across
India including prisons, schools, defence cantonments, old age homes and police training schools. This programme commenced on January 16, 2024, with the inaugural event at Lonavala, led by then Admiral
R. Hari Kumar.
Events across different cities, including Surat, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam and Pune, and at BARC in Mumbai were
organised for building awareness about the holistic benefits of yoga. Prominent personalities like Swami Parmatmanandaji Saraswati and Admiral Kumar helped in
bringing diverse audiences together. Sessions at academic institutions like
Nalanda University, LNIPE, Guwahati, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, Auro University, Surat, and PSEB Auditorium,
Samprasad Vinod were conferred with the most prestigious yoga award in India. In the centenary year, a national conclave titled “Yoga—An Instrument of Cultural Symphony and Social Dimension” was also organised where foremost yoga experts, practitioners, and scholars exchanged ideas about how yoga can help
in bridging cultural divides and addressing critical social issues. The event saw the participation of eminent people such as Justice Bhushan R
Justice Dhanuka and Justice Radhakrishnan each highlighted how yoga enhances both personal and societal well-being. In his
welcome address, Subodh Tiwari highlighted the institution’s mission to showcase yoga’s potential for societal transformation, while Kotecha discussed the global impact of yoga as a movement for personal well-being, social justice, and cultural unity. Lt. Gen. Singh said, “Yoga is India’s greatest contribution to the world. It unites people across faiths and ideologies, pro
Mohali emphasised yoga’s role in education. This part of the outreach programme was led by experts such as Dr Sharadchandra Bhalekar, Prof. Samiran Mondal, and Dr Satbir Bedi. These and other events engaged hundreds of students and teachers in yoga and mental wellness practices.
The Swami Kuvalayananda Yoga Puraskar 2024—an annual event for recognising the efforts of notable people promoting yoga—was held on
September 18, 2024, which was graced by Ram Nath Kovind, former President of
India, and presided over by Suresh Prabhu, former Union Cabinet Minister. Dr B.N.
Gangadhar, Dr Rajiv Kumar and Dr
Gavai of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Ramesh Dhanuka, former Chief
Justice of Bombay High Court, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ayush, Justice Dr S. Radhakrishnan, former judge of Bombay High Court, Santosh Paul, senior
advocate of the Supreme Court, Prof. Girish Chandra Tripathi, former BHU
Vice-Chancellor, Lt Gen. (Retd.) A.K. Singh and Prof. Gopalkrishna Joshi, ViceChancellor of MITVPU, Solapur. In his address, Justice Gavai said, “Yoga is a symphony of mind, body, and
spirit. It is also a powerful tool for social justice and cultural understanding,” recognising the integration of yoga into professional spaces, including the judiciary.
moting collective well-being.” Prof. Joshi emphasised the importance of incorporating yoga into modern education.
Another session of the national conclave was devoted to the immersive
spiritual experience of yoga in which India’s foremost spiritual leaders took part.
Swami Vishweshwarananda Giri (Sannyas Peeth), Swami Parmarthananda Saraswati
(Arsha Vidya Gurukulam), Maa Hansa Yogendra (The Yoga Institute), Palga
Rinpoche, Paramhansa Swami, Niranjanand Saraswati (Bihar School of
Yoga), Acharya Lokesh Muni (Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati), and Swami Atmapriyananda (Ramakrishna Order)
made the session a memorable one.
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