School of Biotechnology, JU organizes a Special Session under,“Har GharDhyan” Campaign of Ministry of Culture, GoIin collaboration with Art of Living Foundation

JAMMU, August 04: The School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, today organized a special lecture  under, “Har GharDhyan,” campaign launched by UGC as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India in collaboration with Art of Living Foundation, Jammu. This initiative of the Government is highly appreciable since incorporating meditation into daily routine can be beneficial for maintaining good mental health and overall well- being. The resource person for the event was, Prof. Rajan Salalia, Chief Scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and Coordinator (STC) Art of Living. Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh.

He presented a special interactive session cum workshop on, “Meditation and Mental Health.” During the lecture, Prof. Rajan Salalia emphasized the importance of maintaining a blend of childlike innocence and adult-like intelligence. Drawing insights from ancient scriptures, he discussed different types of learning and demonstrated the significance of mindful listening in enhancing concentration and focus.

The audience, consisting of faculty members, students, and research scholars from the School of Biotechnology and other departments of the University, was also introduced to desktop yoga exercises, including eye and super brain yoga, aimed at expanding intellectual capacity, memory and concentration.A 20-minute meditation session along with pranayama was conducted by Prof. Rajan, wherein he discussed the rules of meditation and encouraged the audience to incorporate meditation into their daily routine.

He emphasized how meditation brings peace, helps in balancing stress and emotions, and its positive impact on mental health.Furthermore, Prof. RajanSalalia discussed the initiatives undertaken by the Government of India to promote the importance of meditation among the public and urged the participants to register for the Har GharDhyan campaign to enjoy the benefits of meditation.

After the floral welcome to the guest speaker by Prof. B. K. Bajaj,  the formal welcome address was presented by Prof. Sanjana Kaul, Director, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu who emphasized that meditation has been recognized as a valuable tool for promoting mental health and well being. It helps to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

She further added that Universities pay a vital role in promoting mental health among students, since many students experience various challenges during their time in higher education, including academic stress, social pressures, financial burdens, and the transition to a new environment. Therefore, such initiatives need to be implemented to create a supportive and inclusive environment. It is important for Universities to prioritize mental health and work towards creating a campus environment that fosters emotional well – being. University of Jammu has taken a lead in this regard under the mentorship of Prof. Umesh Rai, Honorable Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu.

 Needless to mention the session witnessed enthusiastic participation of about 100 participants including faculty, scholars, students and office staff  of the School. Concluding remarks highlighting the significance of  the  session were given by Prof. Jyoti Vakhlu, Professor, School of Biotechnology. Dr Shallu Sehgal, Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Meditation Ambassador  and Dr. Bharatiraja, Assistant Professor School of Biotechnology coordinated the event and presented formal vote of thanks. Ms. Itika Sharma Ph. D Scholar of the School conducted  the proceedings.

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