Patience And Capability Is Very Necessary In Life

Acharya Balkrishna, a great scholar of Ayurveda, Sanskrit language and the Vedas is the Chief architect of the visionary planning of Patanjali. He has explored ‘Sanjeevani’, ‘Soma’, ‘Telia Kand’, ‘Swarnakshiri’, ‘Swarnadraka’ and four rare & extinct ‘Aavarga Plants’ used as ingredients in the preparation of Chyavanaprasha, as an Ayurvedic tonic. A multi-faceted genius and a personality with knowledge and experience in the administrative and managerial fields, his expertise & knowledge is admired by one and all in India and abroad. He was honored by the Former President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan during a Yoga camp on 23rd October, 2004 and also by the Academy of Ayurvedic Doctors in India, Kolkata for his contribution towards Ayurvedic Medical Science in July 2006 besides several other awards which he has received. Archarya Balkrishna ji took time off from his hectic schedule to have a candid interaction with Eastern Panorama, on the issue of Patanjali growing in Northeast India.

- Nisha Sethia

1. How do you plan to carry out research in Northeast India?

Right now we are doing a lot of research on botanical prospects; especially on traditional medicine system and also planning to make documentation programme on it. We will bring our team where there will be proper scientists, researchers and experts who will work on it, so that the traditional work can be given a scientific touch and it becomes established. This will be our effort and whatever we can do we will do for it.

2. Have you visited North East India before?

I have come to Northeast several times but this is the first time that I have visited Shillong. We have done several works in Northeast especially in Assam, Manipur and planning to start here in Shillong too.

3. Are you planning to bring up a factory?

No, we will not be establishing a factory here but we will be making maximum usage of the available raw material, crafts and accordingly we can plan it out. We have planted a big unit in Tezpur. We can take raw materials from here and work on it there. We will train people from here only and establish them.

4. What is your view on Organic Farming?

Today, a new trend is being followed that is “Organic”. I would like to call it as “Fashion”. I would like to apologise for it, but they are just hybrid crops where there is no yield, no proteins, no nutrients. Just because we have not added any insecticides or pesticides it is not appropriate to call it Organic.