 "Meditation
is the solution to all the problems faced by the mankind,"
says new age guru Bharat Thakur who banks on the
philosophy of freedom and believes in the principle that
life is precious and must be spent happily. Bharat, a
Railway officer's son born in Lillua, Kolkata,
was chosen by the master Swami Sukhdev Brahmachari
at the age of four to live with him in the caves of Gurmukh,
Himalayas.
"He was 98 years old when he took three of us and taught
us the art of yoga and meditation in English," says
Bharat, who believes that Indian yogis don't do so well
because they can't communicate well in English. The 'Himalayan
Master' as he is called, Bharat Thakur directs one through
a series of ancient and powerful meditation techniques
that help find the true meaning of the beauty of life.
Bharat advises many steps for the purification – of the
body, thought process, removal of emotional blockages
and awareness of the conscious body. Adds Bharat, a follower
of Dalai Lama, "I pick out from the rich treasure of
our scriptures. Sometimes when students enter my workshop
they feel it's a madhouse. The process has to be cathartic,
it has to unlock those tense nerves so that you can feel
the freedom tinkle."
 But
spiritual guru isn't what comes to mind when one meets
27 year old Bharat Thakur. He dons jazzy designer clothes,
carries the latest cell phone, drives a swanky car. "I
hate this image of gurus constantly depriving themselves,"
says Thakur. "My message is simple-gain awareness through
meditation, live for today." Thakur is teaching meditation
techniques since last eight years and claims to have some
250,000 followers. "I have celebrity followers like
Naresh and Madhu Trehan, industrialist Sunil Mittal and
artist Hemi Bawa," says Thakur At a two-day
workshop at Hotel Ramada Manohar in the city recently,
he taught meditation techniques, yogic postures and simple
stress busters. "I just want my students to experience
peace," he says. "Human body is a temple,
one has to keep it firm, clean and nice - free from all
stresses and problems," says Bharat Thakur.
 Oldest
of four siblings, Bharat went to school in Dhanbad and
then to Gwalior to complete a five-year Masters in Yoga
from the Laxmi Bai National Institute of Physical Education.
Later he did his Ph.D in bio-mechanics from Calcutta University.
The young master at 27, neither believes in idol worship
nor religion, but has great regard for Mahaveer, Buddha,
Christ, Prophet Mohammed and incorporates the techniques
of Sufis and Zen masters in his workshops. He is based
at Delhi and travels throughout the world to create awareness.
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