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Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah on Thursday said Yoga is deeply ingrained in the university's culture and that a number of his predecessors encouraged its practice on the campus.
“I have been practising Yoga for the past 40 years and it has helped me tremendously. The practice of Yoga is deeply ingrained in AMU culture and a number of former VCs practised it and also encouraged it on the campus,” Shah said.
He, however, said that no one should be pressurised to practise this "ancient form" of exercise.
"It will be counterproductive if pressure is put on any section to practise this form of exercise. Yoga must be delinked from religion to enhance its mass appeal," he said.
"We should treat it as an ancient form of mental and physical exercises without any religious overtones. Yoga is a national treasure and we should all be proud of it," he added.
Shah said that the university had tasked its Department of Physical Education to hold a symposium-cum-workshop on the the first International Day of Yoga on June 21.
He said that since the university is closed for annual summer vacation and it is the month of Ramadan, "mass participation will not be possible on this occasion."
The vice-chancellor expressed hope that International Yoga Day will pave the way for world peace and true to the deeper meaning of this ancient art, "it will join hearts of people".
On November 7, AMU is organising a national seminar on "Yoga and Spirituality" in which Member of Rajya Sabha and former Union Minister Karan Singh will be the chief guest, he added.