Yoga inscribed on Unesco’s list

Yoga has found a place on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's representative list. 

In what New Delhi has described as a diplomatic triumph for India, the inter-governmental committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage has inscribed yoga on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (Unesco’s) representative list as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

This declaration of yoga as a 'human treasure' enjoyed the unanimous support of the 24-member inter-governmental committee, which met in Ethiopia and overturned the decision of an evaluation body of technical experts seeking to defer the case to the next session of the committee in 2017, according to an official release.

The inscription and classification as a 'human treasure' brings immense recognition to yoga, clearing as it has rigorous criteria set out by the Unesco, the only UN body mandated to capture the intangible aspects of culture.

It emphasises yoga’s role as a social practice, an oral tradition and a system of ancient and scientific knowledge, facilitating an enhanced harmony and peace across caste, creed, gender, age and nationality.

Moreover, the inscription enables a bottoms-up empowerment, as it directs the spotlight towards the numerous institutions and communities in India disseminating this ancient tradition. It can also potentially foment a dialogue on the ideas of peace and tolerance, how these can be extended to meet the goals of sustainable development and where India can play a leading role in this global dialogue on inter-cultural relations.