Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said that even though the Bhagavad Gita is thousands of years old, its timeless message remains relevant to people, providing them guidance and help in restoring mental peace.
He inaugurated the Fifth Global Bhagavad Gita Convention virtually from Chennai and stressed the need to translate the universal message of Bhagavad Gita into as many languages as possible for the benefit of the entire humanity.
The Convention, which is being organised in online mode by the Centre for Inner Resources Development (CIRD), North America focuses on the theme of ‘Mental Harmony’. Talking about the theme, Naidu deplored that mental stress is becoming an ‘all-pervading phenomenon in modern times’ and called for greater awareness and attention on the ‘critical health issue’.
He observed that despite the prevalence of mental health issues, awareness remains low in India and there is a lot of stigma associated with it. Noting the pandemic’s added impact on mental well-being of the people, he said that ‘more than anything else, we must be willing to have public conversations about the importance of mental health’.
Naidu called upon popular figures from all fields ‘to talk and raise awareness among people on this important public health issue.’He expressed concern about instances of students ending their lives unable to cope with the stress caused by the pressures of studies.
He highlighted the role of parents and teachers in counselling students, motivating them to face any adversity fearlessly, and to do their duty diligently without worrying about the result. ‘This is the essence of the Upadesa given by Lord Sri Krishna to Arjuna’, he said.
In this regard, Naidu suggested that every educational institution must have in-house counsellors to help students overcome stressful situations. Governments everywhere must ensure compliance of this requirement, he added.
Appreciating the announcement by the Central government to launch a national tele-mental health programme to provide 24×7 free counselling to people, the Vice President said that ‘this is an important step towards ensuring the mental well-being of people, especially those living in remote areas while ensuring their anonymity’.
Naidu also called for a ‘course correction in people’s lifestyles’ and to ensure a work-life balance for people’s wellbeing. Suggesting measures like meditation, exercise, yoga to deal with stress, he emphasised the importance of spirituality in maintaining mental health.
“I firmly believe that spirituality is essential to discover one’s inner strength and mental peace. In this regard, I urge religious leaders to take the message of spirituality to the youth and the masses”, he said.added.
Swami Bhoomananda Thirthaji, the founder of Narayanashrama Tapovanam and visionary behind Global Bhagavad Gita Conventions, Swami Nirviseshananda Tirthaji of Narayanashrama Tapovanam, Ms. Justice Indira Banerjee of Supreme Court of India, Swamini Ma Gurupriya of Narayanashrama Tapovanam, Pankaj Bhatia , President CIRD-NA and Dr. Ravi Jandhyala, Vice- President of CIRD-NA also attended the event.
