In recent developments surrounding the Isha Yoga Centre, the Dravidianist media has constantly made it a point to constantly denounce and portray the organisation in a negative light. An affidavit filed by the Tamil Nadu Police in the Supreme Court has been systematically distorted, leading to sensational headlines that mislead the public about the reality.
The affidavit states that in the last 15 years, the Alandurai police station with the Isha Foundation within its jurisdiction, has registered six missing cases, of which 5 have been dropped and the 6th one is under investigation since the missing person has not been traced. Contrary to the claims made by various news channels, there is no mention of “many” missing persons from the yoga centre in the affidavit, which paints an entirely different picture than what is being reported.
Media Narrative
For instance, Puthiyathalaimurai sensationalized the situation by stating, “Many people who went to the Isha Yoga Center have gone missing; even the police could not trace the missing persons,” and incorrectly asserted that a crematorium is already operational within the centre, despite it being under construction and disputed by nearby residents.
Similarly, the DMK’s mouthpiece Sun News echoed these inaccuracies, stating, “Many people have gone missing at Isha Yoga Centre,“ while fabricating claims about expired medicines being administered at the facility. Such sweeping statements have only served to stoke public fear and foster mistrust towards the Isha Yoga Centre without any substantive evidence.
The affidavit explicitly clarifies that the police had also received seven complaints regarding suicides linked to the Isha Yoga Centre, with two still under investigation pending forensic lab reports. Yet, these critical details were conveniently overlooked by media outlets in favor of more provocative narratives.
Bastardization of news: In Isha yoga affidavit, police has stated in the last 15 years, 6 missing persons cases have been registered and 5 have been dropped with one case still under investigation. But the news cards say 'many' people have disappeared from the yoga centre, pic.twitter.com/xgMVSfcudE
— Symbian 🕉 🇮🇳 (@Symbianian) October 18, 2024
Cases Against Isha Yoga Centre
In the ongoing habeas corpus case involving two monk sisters, Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu, the police informed the Supreme Court that the sisters are living at the centre voluntarily, maintaining regular contact with their parents. They even requested their family to refrain from spreading falsehoods about their lives at the institution. However, this information has been lost amid the sensationalism.
Moreover, while the affidavit reports that there are 217 Brahmacharis, 2,455 volunteers, and 891 paid staff living at the Isha Yoga Centre, news channels have failed to provide a balanced view. Instead, they have chosen to emphasize aspects negatively without acknowledging the vibrant community life that exists within the institution.
It is noteworthy that on 2 October 2024, the Supreme Court of India took over a petition concerning allegations against the Isha Yoga Foundation, previously handled by the Madras High Court. The court prohibited the Tamil Nadu police from further action based on the High Court’s earlier directions, emphasizing that police cannot intrude into such institutions. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that two women, allegedly held against their will, affirmed they were there voluntarily.
The Supreme Court also addressed the allegations surrounding the yoga centre, noting that the two monks were not facing coercion and were free to leave at any time. The court’s remarks indicated that the habeas corpus petition filed by the father of the two women was not warranted, suggesting that his intentions may not have been purely for their welfare.
Despite these judicial clarifications, the media has perpetuated the narrative of wrongdoing at the Isha Yoga Centre, citing allegations without proper context or evidence. The Supreme Court further pointed out that such legal proceedings should not serve as a platform for character assassination against individuals or institutions.
The court’s order clarified that the closure of the habeas corpus proceedings does not impede the ongoing investigations into other allegations against the Isha Foundation, but it also stressed the need for responsible reporting, urging that the media should not misconstrue or manipulate legal matters for sensationalism.
Spreading False Narratives
The media has been systematically portraying Isha Yoga Centre in a bad light for quite some time. There are allegations that Isha Centre has been a trouble for missionary institutions such as Karunya and preventing their conversion activities. The media trial of Isha Centre has been going on for a while, here is a summary of the allegations and myths being spread about Isha Yoga Centre.
Myth #1 – Crematorium Case
The Isha Foundation faced allegations regarding an allegedly illegal crematorium in Boluvampatti village, stemming from a complaint by the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TPDK). Media outlets like The News Minute misrepresented the situation, framing the foundation negatively after a confrontation with TPDK activists, who claimed to be a “Fact-Finding Committee.” In reality, the Isha Foundation constructed the crematorium in response to local needs, particularly for Scheduled Tribes communities lacking access to cremation facilities. The Coimbatore District Court and Madras High Court have upheld the legality of the construction, dismissing TPDK’s accusations and emphasizing that the foundation’s actions were in response to genuine community requests.
Myth #2 – The Elephant Corridor & Isha Mahashivaratri Ban
Claims that the Isha Foundation is located within an elephant corridor have been repeatedly debunked. Affidavits from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment confirm that Isha is not situated in an elephant corridor. Despite this, Dravidianist groups have sought to ban the Mahashivaratri festival, claiming it disturbs wildlife. The National Green Tribunal permitted the festival to proceed, stipulating those necessary permissions be obtained and emphasizing that no human-wildlife conflict had occurred during previous celebrations. The ongoing legal battles reflect a targeted agenda against the Isha Foundation rather than genuine environmental concerns, with media often neglecting to cover the court’s rulings in favor of the foundation.
Myth #3 – Brainwashing Volunteers
Accusations against the Isha Foundation claimed it brainwashed volunteers into becoming sanyasins, leading to a habeas corpus petition filed by a retired professor regarding his daughters. However, the Madras High Court dismissed the petition after confirming that the individuals stayed at the foundation voluntarily. The court’s report noted no coercion or captivity, affirming the foundation’s commitment to promoting well-being. The Isha Foundation highlighted that its volunteers, numbering over 3 million, participate willingly. The court’s ruling reinforced that the foundation operates based on voluntary commitment to a spiritual path, dismissing narratives of coercion as unfounded.
Myth #4 – Missing Volunteers Case
Allegations of missing volunteers from the Isha Foundation were investigated by Tamil Nadu police, who ultimately cleared the foundation of wrongdoing. Most volunteers had left for personal reasons and later returned. The case emerged from a habeas corpus petition concerning one missing volunteer, prompting the court to inquire into the matter. Despite initial reports of several missing individuals, police confirmed that the majority returned and that the case was being dismissed due to the petitioner’s absence from the hearings. This case illustrates the unfounded nature of accusations against the foundation, emphasizing the volunteers’ autonomy and voluntary participation in its activities.
Myth #5 – Isha’s Samskriti Case
Vetriselvan, an advocate against the Isha Foundation, attempted to impose restrictions on Isha Samskriti, a school that teaches Vedic knowledge and traditional Indian martial arts. His petition to ban the school from admitting children aged six to eight was dismissed by the Madras High Court, which criticized it for limiting educational diversity. The court noted that India has various educational systems and that imposing a singular model is inappropriate. Vetriselvan’s claims of violations regarding unapproved buildings and standards for free education were rejected. Isha Samskriti offers a unique curriculum that combines yogic practices, traditional arts, and academic subjects, aimed at fostering physical and mental balance in children. The program emphasizes holistic development, ensuring that students evolve into competent individuals equipped to positively influence their communities.
In conclusion, the Isha Foundation has faced persistent and unfounded attacks from Periyarist and Dravidianist groups, who have repeatedly defamed it with fabricated narratives and false allegations. Despite courts consistently debunking these claims as baseless, these efforts continue unabated. The biased portrayal by sympathetic media in Tamil Nadu, which often presents only half-truths, remains a troubling reality.
Interestingly, Karunya University, designated as a Christian minority institution, has not been subjected to similar levels of litigation and allegations by these groups. Environmentalists have pointed out that the institutions face similar issues regarding violations and lack of approvals. For instance, Karunya University, sprawling over 800 acres, is located in an elephant corridor that includes wetlands and numerous water sources of the River Noyyal.
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