Draft:Acharya Ashutosh Ji Maharaj
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Acharya Ashutosh Ji Maharaj | |
|---|---|
 Acharya Ashutosh Ji Maharaj | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Yoga Guru, Prison Reformer, Social worker |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | Yoga-based prison reform in India |
Acharya Ashutosh Kumar Ji is an Indian yoga teacher and spiritual practitioner known for initiating yoga-based reform and rehabilitation programs in Indian prisons. His work has focused on incorporating yoga, meditation, and traditional Vedic practices into correctional settings to promote mental and emotional well-being among inmates.
Early Work
[edit]Acharya Ashutosh Kumar Ji has been involved in yoga and spiritual instruction for more than three decades. He has conducted programs across India and abroad, focusing on holistic self-development rooted in Indian traditions.
Prison Reform Initiatives
[edit]In 2015, as part of the International Day of Yoga, a large-scale yoga session was held in Tihar Jail, involving over 10,000 inmates. The session was led by Ashutosh Kumar and was recognized in the Limca Book of Records for the voluntary participation of the highest number of prisoners in a single yoga session.[1]
Following this, he designed a year-long Yoga Teachers' Training Course (YTTC) in line with AYUSH protocols, aimed at training inmates to become certified yoga instructors. Approximately 180 inmates participated, with over 100 completing the course. Graduates of the program conducted sessions within the prison system and were offered opportunities for rehabilitation upon release.
Rupantaran Yatra
[edit]In 2016, Ashutosh Kumar introduced the "Rupantaran Yatra", a 14-day spiritual rehabilitation program involving 18 convicted inmates from Tihar Jail. The program took place in Haridwar, where participants lived in a Gurukul-style environment and engaged in yoga, meditation, and spiritual discourse. The inmates were sent without police escort, a decision that attracted significant media attention.[2][3]
Expansion and Model Implementation
[edit]The yoga-based reform model was later expanded to other facilities in Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. A dedicated yoga studio was inaugurated in Central Jail No. 3 in Tihar in 2017, and subsequent programs trained over 500 inmates as yoga teachers in various jails.[4]
A similar teacher training course was conducted in Gurugram Jail in association with India Vision Foundation, where inmates from all Haryana prisons participated. The program concluded with a convocation attended by senior government officials, including the Governor of Puducherry at the time, Kiran Bedi.
Media Coverage
[edit]In 2024, international media platform VICE published an article titled "From Prison Inmates to Yoga Warriors," documenting the outcomes of the programs led by Ashutosh Kumar. The article highlighted individual transformations among participants, including inmates previously convicted for violent crimes.[5]
His programs have also been featured on DD News, Lok Sabha TV, and in The Times of India’s "Speaking Tree" spiritual column.
COVID-19 Relief Work
[edit]During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashutosh Kumar organized relief efforts that included the distribution of food, oxygen cylinders, and masks, including in jails. He also donated plasma after recovering from COVID-19 and was recognized by the District Magistrate of South Delhi and the Chief Minister’s Office.
Ongoing Work
[edit]In 2024, yoga and Ayurveda-based reformation efforts continued in Haridwar District Jail, with plans to introduce a Panchakarma Training Center and yoga studio in Uttarakhand prisons. The goal remains to establish a self-sustaining prison reform model based on Indian wellness traditions.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]- ^ "18 convicts lodged in Tihar back from yoga session in Haridwar". The Times of India. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "A fortnight by the Ganges brings change of heart". Deccan Herald. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "18 Tihar convicts attend yoga session in Haridwar". The Asian Age. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Now to change the minds of detainees and prisoners". Dainik Jagran. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "From Prison Inmates to Yoga Warriors". VICE. 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.