Philanthropy’s unlikely (?) bedfellows

"Dr Vivek Murthy and his father Dr H N Lakshminarsimha Murthy being felicitated for their philanthropic activities during their visit to Hallagere in Mandya district, His paternal uncle H K Vasanth Kumar is also seen. Also seen: Dr Vivek, his father Dr H N Lakshminarsimha Murthy, mother Mythreyi and sister Dr Rashmi Murthy with Barak Obama" Hansindia

A simple tweet by the Tibetan Review aroused my curiosity. What do the current US Surgeon General, Ex-President Obama and his wife, the Dalaï-lama and an International Yoga and Meditation Centre (IYMC) in India (Hallegere, Mandya district in Karnataka state) have in common? The building of the IYMC is the initiative of the Bhutayi Trust[1], in hands of Dr Lakshminarasimha Murthy, the father of the current US Surgeon General (since December 2020), Dr Vivek Hallege Murthy.

“Murthy's father, Dr Laxminarasimha Murthy hails from Hallegere in Mandya district. He possesses 13 acres of inherited land and has vowed to develop his motherland.

He has planned to open an international-level Yoga and Meditation Centre at a cost of about Rs 80 crore from Bhutayi Trust. The Murthy family is working for social causes through trust. Recently, LN Murthy was also honoured by various organizations.

The Mandya district administration is also extending full cooperation to the works carried out by the trust. MLA Dinesh Gooligowda had announced to provide a grant of 10 lakh rupees from his MLA's regional development fund to the trust. (ANI)”

Ex-President Obama’s link to this specific project of an International Yoga and Meditation Centre is unclear. On January 27th 2016, just before leaving as a President, Obama made “a plea for freedom of religion to be upheld in a country with a history of strife between Hindus and minorities” (Reuters). In 2022, previous to Modi’s visit to the US, Obama “said President Joe Biden in his meeting with PM Narendra Modi should mention the need to protect the Muslim minority in a Hindu majority India” (The Tribune).

“Because if I had a conversation with PM Modi, who by the way I know well, part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, then there is a strong possibility that at some point of time India will start pulling apart. We have seen what happens when you start getting such kinds of large internal conflicts. So that would be contrary not just to the interest of Muslim India but Hindu India. So, I think it’s important to be able to talk about these things honestly.” (The Tribune)

Modi’s ruling BJP was recently voted out in the key Indian state of Karnataka, where Obama’s visit has now been planned for December 2023. The fact that Ex-President Obama travels with his wife Michelle shows this is a philanthropic visit (Obama Foundation), probably more because of the overall philanthropic activities of Biden’s US Surgeon General activities and his father’s Trust in their original country and region than this specific project of an International Yoga and Meditation Centre, that will probably not displease Indian PM Modi. Yoga and meditation are central to some of the emblematic world religions that India gave birth to and that Modi would like to particularly preserve, protect and promote : Hinduism and Buddhism.

The invitation of the internationally renowned Dalai-lama to this event is therefore religiously, and perhaps even “philanthropically” justified, because of some of the alleged benefits to health, society, etc. linked to the practice of Yoga, meditation, mindfulness…, both in the region, nationally and internationally.

The Mandya district administration will provide help with facilities like helipads, roads, drains, electricity, drinking water in Hallegere for the visit and the future centre.

“The members of the delegation explained the nature of the work of the centre and said that the centre will be a great contribution not only to Hallegere and Mandya district but to the entire state. They also explained the social work being done by the trust.”

“The Mandya district administration is also extending full cooperation to the works carried out by the trust. MLA Dinesh Gooligowda had announced to provide a grant of 10 lakh rupees from his MLA's regional development fund to the trust. (ANI).” (Latestly)

I will try and keep you informed about the International Yoga and Meditation Centre and its international objectives. 

See also my blog about the philanthropic M3M Foundation (Suck my tongue, The builder of the 4 Indian Trump Towers and the Dalai-Lama)

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[1] Due to my lack of knowledge of hindi and kannada, I could find no information about this trust, including a search on the name in hindi भुतायी ट्रस्ट. Bhūtāyi seems to mean “Earth-mother”.