Transport chief turns to yoga

The eight-hour sessions over two days were for officers of the transport department upto the level of Motor Vehicle Licensing Officer (MLO). Nearly 25 persons attended, says a pleased Regunathan.

And while these officials stood on their heads and performed deep breathing exercises, just down the road at ITO, the average Delhiite was breathing noxious fumes for hours on end in the never-ending traffic snarls. In fact, the Supreme Court today expressed its displeasure over the way the government had been handling the issue of controlling air pollution, while refusing to extend the October-2 deadline for phasing out commercial vehicles 15 years and older.

Regunathan says that the two-day session was an attempt to alleviate the strain on these officials, while bringing about “attitudinal change”. After all, stress management programmes are very much in vogue and have worked effectively in big corporate houses. So why shouldn’t the government follow suit?

He got the first brainwave when he was Education Secretary. “During one literacy programme I realised that educated people are indifferent to national building. So I thought it would be better to concentrate on children. I zeroed in on Tulsi Acharya’s science of living experiments,” says Regunathan.

It has been a therapeutic process for the Transport Commissioner, who now wants to share the experience with the rest of his department. “This workshop wasn’t the first time for me. I have been through the process earlier also. I learned a lot, and thought that it would work on the others as well”.

Regunathan says that over the two days the officers were taught how to tackle stress and manage time. “There was yoga also, with a focus on auto suggestion, visualisation and prakash adhyan. We had to introspect and see ourselves from inside. We had to contemplate on certain qualities and learn to bring out the humility in ourselves”.

A weekend and a few shavasans later, the commissioner is confident that the 25 fortunate officials of the transport department have learnt something of immense value and will tackle their work with renewed vigour. “All of them said that the workshop has benefitted them”.

And while the Supreme Court today hauled up the government and amicus curiae Harish Salve said there was a lack of will on the part of the government to implement the court order, the transport department officials have gone back to work with a new inspiration.

Meanwhile, Regunathan is now focussing on improving the efficiency of the DTC department by introducing them to these yoga classes.