12 hours ago
PM Modi likely to participate in photoshoot with foreign students on Yoga Day
Around 400 foreign students pursuing their education in various educational institutions in the city are likely to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even go for a photoshoot during the International Yoga Day celebrations schedule to be held on June 21.
According to a tentative schedule, Mr. Modi may interact with the foreign students, a majority of them studying in Andhra University and GITAM Deemed to be University, briefly, sources said.
At least 2,000 foreign students from over 50 countries are pursuing their UG, PG and PhD courses in various institutions in the city. These include around 1,000 from AU and 470 from GITAM.
With their academic year scheduled to begin in July, most of them have gone on summer vacations. These institutions are bringing the available foreign students to the event and training them in yoga.
During a conversation with some foreign students on Thursday with The Hindu, many of them said that the practice session was their first experience as they had never done yoga.
'Many of us are in the habit of going to the gym, playing indoor and outdoor games. Yoga is new for us. We have been practising yoga for the last week and it gives the feeling of wellbeing,' said Victor from Uganda, who pusrusing education in GITAM Deemed to be Unviersity
A Japanese national, Soko Takeuchi, who did her PG in yoga in Pune, is currently pursuing her Ph.D at Department of Yoga and Consciousness at Andhra University.
She is now a trainer for international students of AU. Every day, 90 to 100 students get trained by her in the international hostel.
'I love yoga. I am happy that I am a trainer for the international students,' Ms. Soko told The Hindu.
Elina Mubhengi, an AU student from Nambia said, 'I had read about yoga in my school days, but after joining my course here at AU, I experienced it first hand. I am happy to know that our university has a Yoga Village for individuals who are interested in pursuing courses.'
GITAM University Director (International Students Affairs) Prof. K.P.C. Kishan said that many students were not aware of yoga. 'Now, they are learning it and are getting a positive feeling. We have learnt about the special interaction programme with the Prime Minister. We are waiting for the final call from the organisers of the event,' he said.
AU International students co-ordinator for yoga event, Prof. N.M Yugandhar said, 'We have been allotted compartment C-2, which is 100 metres away from the main venue at the RK beach. Around 150 foreign students from our university, who have been trained by Japanese yoga expert Soko, will participate in the event.'
