Ramdev Baba: The Controversial Yoga Guru and Businessman

Ramdev Baba, also known as Swami Ramdev, is one of the most influential and controversial figures in India. He is a yoga guru, businessman, and brand ambassador for Patanjali Ayurved, a company that produces and sells ayurvedic products. He is known for promoting yoga and ayurveda in India and abroad, as well as for his involvement in various social and political issues.

Yoga and Ayurveda

Ramdev Baba started his career as a yoga teacher in the 1990s. He claims to have learned yoga from various masters and scriptures. He has been organizing and conducting large yoga camps since 2002 and broadcasting his yoga classes on various TV channels. He claims that his yoga can cure various diseases and ailments, such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, asthma, and more. He also advocates for a vegetarian diet and a simple lifestyle.

He co-founded Patanjali Ayurved and Patanjali Yogpeeth with his colleague Balkrishna in 2006. Patanjali Ayurved is a company that produces and sells ayurvedic products, such as toothpaste, shampoo, soap, biscuits, noodles, and more. Patanjali Yogpeeth is a research institute and a charitable trust that focuses on yoga and ayurveda. Ramdev Baba is the brand ambassador and the face of Patanjali Ayurved, which has become one of the fastest-growing FMCG companies in India. He claims that his products are natural, organic, and beneficial for health and wellness.

Controversies and Criticism

However, Ramdev Baba has also faced a lot of controversies and criticism for his claims and activities. Recently, he has been in the news for facing a contempt notice from the Supreme Court of India for running misleading advertisements about his products and making false claims about their medicinal efficacy. The court issued the notice to Ramdev Baba’s Patanjali Ayurved and its MD Aharya Balakrishna for violating the undertaking given by them in the court about their products. The court also imposed a temporary ban on the medicine ads by Patanjali Ayurved, citing misleading claims.

This is not the first time that Ramdev Baba has been accused of making dubious claims about his products. In 2020, he launched a product called Coronil, which he claimed could cure COVID-19. However, he faced backlash from the medical community and the government for making unsubstantiated claims and violating the rules and regulations. He later changed the name and description of the product and said that it was an immunity booster and not a cure.

Ramdev Baba has also been criticized for his views and statements on various social and political issues. He has been vocal about his opposition to homosexuality, sex education, western culture, and allopathy. He has also been accused of spreading misinformation and pseudoscience. He has also been involved in several legal cases and controversies, such as tax evasion, land grabbing, money laundering, and more.

Political Alignment

Ramdev Baba is also aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on a number of issues. He has led protests against corruption in India and has advocated for the repatriation of black money held in foreign banks. He has also supported the BJP’s policies and leaders, such as Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. He has praised Modi as a visionary leader and a yogi. He has also campaigned for the BJP in various elections and rallies.

In 2011 – 2012, he was listed as the 78th most powerful Indian by The Indian Express. He has also been featured in various national and international media outlets, such as Time, Forbes, CNN, BBC, and more. He has also received various awards and honors, such as the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in 2015.

Conclusion

Ramdev Baba is a complex and controversial figure who has a huge following and influence in India and abroad. He is a yoga guru, businessman, and brand ambassador for Patanjali Ayurved, a company that produces and sells ayurvedic products. He is known for promoting yoga and ayurveda in India and abroad, as well as for his involvement in various social and political issues. However, he has also faced a lot of controversies and criticism for his claims and activities. He has been accused of making misleading and false claims about his products and their medicinal efficacy. He has also been criticized for his views and statements on various social and political issues. He has also been involved in several legal cases and controversies. He is also aligned with the BJP on a number of issues and has supported and campaigned for the party and its leaders.