Sept 8, 2002

Tranquility may seem a mirage in the Lodi Garden in Delhi-joggers whiz by, Labradors waddle around and exercise freaks practise, part-display their work-outs. Oblivious of this cacophony, a motley crew of youngsters practising what looks like yoga seems to be at peace. "This is Falun Gong... well, maybe you can call it the 'Chinese yoga'," says Janice, a Singaporean IT professional who introduced a few friends in Bangalore and Delhi to the practice some time back. Slowly Falun Gong is permeating other Indian cities as well.

Exercise for the body and mind: Janice teaching Falun Gong at the Lodi Garden in Delhi

"I have been a Reiki healer and have tried other systems, but nothing is a complete mind-body-soul system like this," says Rajeev Kumar, a native of Lucknow working at the Delhi Metro. Rajeev got to know about the system from his brother Sanjeev who was introduced to it by Janice. Rajeev is now the 'Indian voice' of Falun Dafa, as the movement is known, teaching the exercises in Hindi every weekend at the Lodi Garden.

Based on the principles of zhen, shan and ren (truthfulness, compassion and forbearance), Falun Dafa consists of five sets of simple exercises known as Falun Gong, the teachings of master Li Hongzhi and advanced meditation. Falun Gong activists say that they never accept fees or contributions. "All activity has to come from you personally, out of one's personal interest," says Amy, an Australian who visits India to teach Falun Gong.

Teachers like Janice go around holding exercise demos and the nine-day lectures, and people are benefiting. Chitra Devnani, a housewife in Bangalore had tried homeopathy and therapies like sujyo (acupressure) for her backache. "But nothing worked," she says, "until I attended a Falun Gong demo at the Kanika Parmeshwari temple." Initially she did only the exercises, but after attending the nine-day lecture she became an ardent follower. "I could see that those people were following the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance."

Today, Bangalore, Mysore and Hyderabad have hundreds of Falun Gong followers and Chitra herself has held demos at Bapu Composite College in Yeshwantpur, Bangalore. "A couple of schools have also evinced interest," she says.

'A complete system': Rajeev Kumar

What makes Falun Gong score? "It incorporates principles of [Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance], and the exercises, like yoga, open up the energy channels," explains Janice. The exercises, rooted in ancient Chinese culture and packaged for modern consumption by Li Hongzhi ten years ago, aims at the rejuvenation of the mind and soul. "The health benefits are just the byproducts," says Chitra.

Falun Gong, however, has had its share of controversy. In September 1998, a Chinese National Physical Education Bureau survey showed that the illness recovery rate among people practising Falun Gong was 97.9 per cent. By then, Li had gone overseas, spreading it to other parts of the world, with support and awards pouring in from nearly 50 countries.

[...] By the late nineties, its followers in China had swelled up to a massive 100 million-more than the total membership of the Communist Party. President Jiang Zemin ordered a crackdown in July 1999; thousands were arrested and many tortured or sent to labour camps. Falun Gong activists allege that more than 1,600 people were killed.

They allege that the Chinese secret police keep tabs on practitioners outside China, too. Amy, who lives in Sydney, says that Chinese agents often break into her house. "I know it is not a burglary because the only things missing are my Falun Gong books," she says. Recently, the conviction of Falun Gong activists on charges of obstructing public movement in Hong Kong (the movement is still legal there) made headlines all over the world.

Yet, Falun Gong is flourishing. Li, who is believed to be in North America, was nominated by about half a dozen countries for the Nobel peace prize in 1999. Practitioners like Amy and Janice keep their fingers crossed as the banned [group] becomes popular in India.

(For more details on the movement, write to [email protected] or log on to www.falundafaindia.net or www.faluninfo.net)

http://www.the-week.com/22sep08/life9.htm