Latest news with #Brahmakumaris
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Digital Obesity' silent epidemic among students: VNIT director
1 2 3 Nagpur: Calling out the excessive dependence on digital screens as a 'silent epidemic', VNIT director Premlal Patel on Friday said 'digital obesity' is emerging as a serious threat to students' mental stability and academic performance. He was speaking at a workshop titled 'Digital Wellness: Stabilise Your Mind to Utilise Your Brain', held on the VNIT campus in association with the Brahmakumaris. "From the moment students wake up to when they sleep, their minds are constantly wired. Unchecked screen exposure is leading to cognitive fatigue, emotional instability, and declining classroom performance," Patel said. He cautioned against night-time phone use and doom-scrolling, which, he added, was eroding students' attention spans and overall well-being. To counter this trend, VNIT launched the Rajyoga Thought Lab, the first of its kind at the institute. "We have labs for machines, materials, and equations — but none for the mind. That needs to change," Patel asserted. The lab will focus on thought management, guided journaling, meditation, and other techniques to help students build emotional resilience. The event was inaugurated by BK Rajni Didi in the presence of Mukesh Agrawal, Ratnesh Kumar, and BK Bala Kishore, a digital wellness expert who underlined the importance of integrating thought training into mainstream education. Supporting Patel's views, VNIT dean of student welfare Ratnesh Kumar said students are increasingly facing stress and attention issues, necessitating structured, science-backed mental health interventions. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mass yoga session held at popular ‘Thotlakonda' Buddhist site
Over 1,000 enthusiastic participants gathered for a mass yoga session atop the Thotlakonda Buddhist heritage site on Sunday, as part of the district administration's 'Yogandhra' campaign. The month-long Yogandhra initiative is being held in the run-up to International Yoga Day on June 21, which Visakhapatnam will host this year. The event is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, the Chief Minister, Governor and other dignitaries. The session began with prayers and yoga postures led by Buddhist monks Rajadhamma from Myanmar, Bummare from Cambodia and Dharmachari of the Visakhapatnam Buddhist Society. Personnel from the Indian Navy, yoga school representatives, Brahmakumaris and staff from the Tourism Department also participated in the session. For the first time, a yoga programme was held atop the Thotlakonda Buddhist heritage site. Speaking at the event, District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad highlighted that Visakhapatnam will host the prestigious International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. He said yoga sessions would be conducted across a wide stretch — from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam — and efforts are under way to ensure the participation of nearly five lakh people. The event also aims to set a world record, he added. To prepare for the occasion, yoga training sessions are being held at village and ward levels. The Collector noted that the public response has been overwhelming. In each secretariat jurisdiction, three training centres are being set up, with 100 participants being trained at each. He also assured that transport facilities will be arranged for attendees and that awareness campaigns are being run to promote the benefits of daily yoga practice. Joint Collector Ashok Mayur was present. Striking images of participants performing yoga asanas amid the ancient architecture and tranquil surroundings of Thotlakonda went viral on social media on Sunday.
