First Chaitya Policy Dialogue

World Meditation Day

21 December 2025 | ITC Maurya, New Delhi

Breathe As Medicine: Pranayam and India's Ancient Wisdom for Global Mental Well-being

Panelists: Swami Vishalanand, U.S. representatives to the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine; Former Secretary-General of Upper House of Parliament and former President of AIIMS Gorakhpur; Professor and Head of Centre, Psychiatry Division, AIIMS Delhi; Former Ms. India beauty pageant turned Spiritual Guru and Social Activist.

The audience included Secretary-rank IAS officers, CXO-level corporate heads such as from TATA Power and IndiaBulls, reps. from Kaivalyadham and the Art of Living, Senior Physicians, and social entrepreneurs.

The discussion examined the role of Pranayama in the National Education Policy, pathways to generate scientific evidence for traditional knowledge systems, and strategies to mainstream meditation within medical practice. Journalists from leading national dailies and television attended as well. Media coverage and audience quotes are inset below.

Dr Sheva Carr, United States representative to the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, underscored the importance of building robust scientific evidence to enable wider international acceptance of traditional practices. For this purpose, a knowledge repository has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India at the recently concluded WHO Summit.

Mr. Desh Deepak Verma, former President AIIMS Gorakhpur (IAS Retd.) and Professor Anju Dhawan, AIIMS Delhi, highlighted the growing cross-disciplinary research on meditation and mental health such as by NIMHANS and Art of Living.

Mr. Munjal, former CFO TATA Power, asked about the introduction of Pranayam and mindfulness practices in the new Education Reforms Bill.