Brief Biography of DR H R Nagendra
DR H R Nagendra is a mechanical engineer, a world-renowned yoga expert and Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), Bengaluru. After completing his Ph. D from IISc, Dr. Hongasandra Rama Rao Nagendra moved to NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre, USA, as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in 1971. He returned to Vivekananda Kendra in 1975 to pursue human engineering as against mechanical engineering. Dr. Nagendra is one of the few yoga exponents who interpret yoga on the scientific horizon. He has the privilege of being the personal yoga consultant of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. He was awarded by the Government of India with Padma Shri in 2016.
Dr HR Nagendra initial journey and NASA
Dr HR Nagendra holds PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Then, he went to Canada for Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia in 1970. He went to NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre, USA, as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in 1971 and moved to the Engineering Science Laboratory, Harvard University, USA, as a Consultant in 1972.
Dr Nagendra, Chancellor of SVYASA
He joined Vivekananda Kendra in 1975. He served as the All India Secretary, Yoga Shiksha Vibhag, Vivekanand Kendra, Kanyakumari between Between 1975 and 1993, Dr Nagendra is the founder and President of Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru. He is the Chancellor of SVYASA, a Yoga University in Bangalore since 2012.
Research Contributions
DR H R Nagendra has many achievements and contributions in the research domain. Before entering the realm of yoga, he published 30 research papers in Engineering in National and international Engineering Journals and presented about 300 research papers at different conferences. In the discipline of yoga, he has published 135 research papers, 32 yoga research reports, and more than 40 books on yoga. D Nagendra is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Yoga and the monthly magazine ‘Yoga Sudha’. He is also the columnist of Business Economics (fortnightly published from Kolkata).
Supervisor and guide for Ph. D Scholars
He has been the guide of more than 35 students and also has been the co-guide in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IISc, Bengaluru. He has been the co-guide for 250 dissertations on Yoga and naturopathy subjects.
Curriculum development
He has been an integral part of the curriculum development of engineering courses, training of life Workers of Vivekananda Kendra, Yoga courses for the General Public, Patients-Integrated approach of Yoga Therapy Executives, Education improvement, Invoking dormant potentials, etc.
Development of Research Projects
He has been associated with the Center of Excellence in Yoga – AYUSH grant-in-aid project, Stop Diabetes Movement, Center for Advance Research in Yoga and Neurophysiology, Diabetes and Yoga, Yoga for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Yoga and Asthma, Bronchial Asthma and Yoga, Yoga and Myopia: Eye Clinic, London, Yoga and Eating Disorders: Advanced Psychiatry Clinic, Los Angeles, Cancer & Yoga Cancer Center, New York, Yoga and Sleep Studies; Yoga and Psychosis; and Yoga and Aging, etc.
Awards
Dr H R Nagendra was awarded the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, in 2016. He was also awarded the Rotarian Award ( 2016), the FKCCI Karnataka Award ( 2016), the Alumni Award of IISc, Bengaluru ( 2015), the Light of Yoga award, the Global Peace Award, Bharat Gaurav award in British Parliament, the International Yoga Grand Master Award from Portuguese Yoga Confederation, National Citizen’s Award, etc.
Achievements and distinctions
He was the Chairman of the International Day of Yoga Task Force, Documentation Committee set up by CCRYN, Ministry of Ayush; President of the Indian Yoga Association; Member of the Working Group of Experts for Planning Commission; Member of the Board of Studies for the subject of Science of Living, Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladanu (Rajasthan); Member of the Board of Studies in Yoga in Maharshi Dayananda Saraswathi University; Working President, Vishwa Mangala Gou Grama Yathra, etc.
Idea of Prashanti Kutiram
Though Dr H R Nagendra is a student of engineering, he jumped into the wisdom of Yoga and spiritual lore. He was fascinated by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Later on, he was asked by the UGC to bring knowledge of Yoga to University campuses, and the VYASA had nine campuses in which Yoga centres were established. He has been the guiding force behind the VYASA movement. He has been instrumental in coordinating several people’s efforts to bring up a 35-acre campus of scenic beauty twenty miles from Bengaluru. The campus is the developing headquarters of S-VYASA, with research as the main aim. Prashanti has developed into a 250-bed indepth yoga research centre of international acclaim called Arogyadhama, including Surabhi – a Naturopathy and Ayurveda facility to treat patients and promote positive health. Prashanti also houses an intensive, holistic 30-bed Cancer Care Center.